Compression / Decompression

[Chris Chappell]

Syrinx (sp), cysts, and related spinal cord maladies.

I would suggest that any patients considering such surgical procedures should consult with Dr. Scott Falci, Craig hospital (Englewood, CO).
ph: 303-789-8000

In my opinion he is a very skilled and respected surgeon.

[CC-36]

Dr Falci is the best

[kris gulden]

Dr. Barth Green, at the Univerity of Miami, is the guy who did my detethering. I swear by him. And he trained Dr. Falci at Craig Hospital.

Contact info is bgreen@med.miami.edu, or (305)-243-6946

[antiquity]

Chris, CC, have either of you guys been decompressed, if so, how much did you recover?

Thanks.

[kris gulden]

Seneca,

I'm one year post detethering. I've only noticed a small recovery of hand function, although I have a feeling there's more improvement than I'm aware of. Since the changes are so slight and take so long, I think I don't see some of what's changing. Usually it takes a friend to point out a difference to me.

Kris

[antiquity]

Thanks kris, how many years post were you before the untethering and what was your level of injury?


P.S. I know this isn't a question and answer forum and I'll be happy to copy it to another forum if asked.

[kris gulden]

Seneca,

My injury was incomplete at T4 in May of 1998. I had a lot of surgery for the syringomyelia - first was reconstruction of the subarachnoid space (which may be "decompression" just expressed differently)in December of 1999, followed by two shunts, another decompression, and a third shunt. All of the operations were completed by April 2000. Each of these was done by John Jane at the University of Virginia. And each was done because I was rapidly losing function. In November of 2000 I was again losing function. Dr. Jane wanted to put in ANOTHER shunt. I said no way, went to Miami in February of 2001, and Dr. Green did a detethering.

[Chris Chappell]

I did not have untethering but I did have decompression. Gained about 1-2 levels. Went from C6 to about C8.

My experience with other sci friends is that when they have started to lose function that they had previously then undergo untethering/decompression surgery that their function is restored and in some cases improved.

It seems, again in my opinion, that the surgeon / surgery that one has at the time of injury, like MP, has an impact later on whether decompression or untethering will be necessary or helpful.

I think that the skill of the neurosurgeon is critical - therefor the recommendation of Dr. Falci.