[A case of a young infant with Chiari II malformation treated by only bony foramen magnum decompression].

A case of a young infant with Chiari II malformation treated by only foramen magnum decompression was reported. The patient was a 3-month-old infant with a one-month history of stridor and respiratory distress. The myelomeningocele was surgically repaired. At the age of two weeks, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt had been inserted. On admission, MRI demonstrated Chiari II malformation. The shunt mechanism was functioning. Suboccipital craniectomy and upper cervical laminectomy from C1 to C5 level was performed. After the removal of the dural band at the foramen magnum level, good pulsation of the dura mater was demonstrated. After surgery, the stridor and respiratory distress disappeared. Foramen magnum decompression carried out by our surgical technique is advantageous because all the procedures are extradural and there are, therefore, fewer postoperative complications than the foramen magnum decompression techniques previously reported.