Should the tonsils retract following surgery?

When they do your surgery, are the tonsils "pushed" back up under the patch that was placed?  Do they "retract" on their own?  Or do they stay the same as they were in the presurgery DX, but are just more "comfortable" due to having a larger space "To hang out in"?  

[rod44]

From the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & stroke website.....

Posterior fossa decompression surgery is performed on adults with CM to create more space for the cerebellum and to relieve pressure on the spinal column.  Surgery involves making an incision at the back of the head and removing a small portion of the bottom of the skull (and sometimes part of the spinal column) to correct the irregular bony structure.  The neurosurgeon may use a procedure called electrocautery to shrink the cerebellar tonsils.  This surgical technique involves destroying tissue with high-frequency electrical currents.

A related procedure, called a spinal laminectomy, involves the surgical removal of part of the arched, bony roof of the spinal canal (the lamina) to increase the size of the spinal canal and relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots.

The surgeon may also make an incision in the dura (the covering of the brain) to examine the brain and spinal cord.  Additional tissue may be added to the dura to create more space for the flow of CSF.

Infants and children with myelomeningocele may require surgery to reposition the spinal cord and close the opening in the back.

[Daniel M Prevedello, MD]

Depends on the technique used.
If the tonsils are not removed surgically, then they change the shape over time and they look more comfortable as you said under the patch.

[rod44]

From the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & stroke website.....

Posterior fossa decompression surgery is performed on adults with CM to create more space for the cerebellum and to relieve pressure on the spinal column.  Surgery involves making an incision at the back of the head and removing a small portion of the bottom of the skull (and sometimes part of the spinal column) to correct the irregular bony structure.  The neurosurgeon may use a procedure called electrocautery to shrink the cerebellar tonsils.  This surgical technique involves destroying tissue with high-frequency electrical currents.

A related procedure, called a spinal laminectomy, involves the surgical removal of part of the arched, bony roof of the spinal canal (the lamina) to increase the size of the spinal canal and relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots.

The surgeon may also make an incision in the dura (the covering of the brain) to examine the brain and spinal cord.  Additional tissue may be added to the dura to create more space for the flow of CSF.

Infants and children with myelomeningocele may require surgery to reposition the spinal cord and close the opening in the back.

[selmaS]

Hi...as we all have said many times it is not the herniation that is an issue unless it creates an obstruction of CSF flow, the PFD is to make room and restore flow....it usually does not involve the tonsils ne more...at one time many drs were removing them...some will cauterize them and I think that depends on the shape not the length of the tonsil.

New research is providing more views on this topic and it is varied depending on whom u ask.

Hope this helps : )
"selma"