Surgical Management of Cervicomedullary Compression in Achondroplastic Patients

Abstract

In this segment it will not be necessary to go over the clinical presentations and pre-operative evaluations that are an essential part of the management of achondroplastic patients. It is sufficient to say that the clinical presentations such as delayed motor milestones, hyperreflexia and clonus, multiparesis, respiratory insufficiency and/or apnea, and obstructive sleep apnea are sufficient enough to warrant investigations to exclude cervicomedullary compression. If present, the evidence already presented during this conference in terms of outcome would justify surgical intervention. We will concentrate on the surgical preparation and the actual surgical procedure for decompressing the cervicomedullary region.