No, the synthetic dura patch is not new, and it has had problems.....here is a link to an older thread-
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Chiari-Malformation/chiari-dura-patch-leaking/show/1066847
There was a way to submit questions in advance, but I did not get on soon enuff to do so....
Even with "chiari" specialists u will have major differences of opinion....u need to find a dr that feels the way u do with all the research u do......
Such as a dr that would refuse to use a patch u prefer over one he wants to use for no other reason then speed to get in and out of the OR is not someone u want....u want one that will consider possibilities of rejection of the patch...and more issues as a result....
And those that claim to cure or heal us that we no longer have chiari post op....makes me wonder a bit about them and their egos.
Too many also use time frames to guide patients back to work or "normal" activities...which I feel should not be done...we all have our own time table, and not until we r in the recovery process will we be able to tell what we can or can not do.....
And to ur point...no constancy with how to dx this condition...some look for 5mm or longer...ugh....
What can I say, so much research needs to be done as well as education of the NS's already in hospitals let alone the ones in med school now.
"selma"