This surgery makes more space for your brain tissue. It's used to treat a condition called "Chiari malformation." That's when part of your brain pushes down out of your skull and into your spinal canal.
To begin, you are put to sleep. Your head is secured. The surgeon makes an incision along the back of your head and neck.
The surgeon carefully removes bone at the base of your skull. This enlarges an opening we call the "foramen magnum." The rear of one or more cervical vertebrae may be removed, too. Finally, the surgeon may need to make more room inside the dura. That's the membrane that surrounds your brain and spinal cord. If so, the surgeon creates an incision to let it expand. Then, the dura is sealed with graft material.
After the surgery, you're monitored in a recovery room. You'll stay in the hospital until it's safe for you to go home. Follow your surgeon's instructions as you heal.