Basilar impression associated with impacted cisterna magna, spastic paraparesis and distress of balance: case report

Abstract

We report on a 48 years-old man with basilar impression without syringohydromyelia, in which the cisterna magna was impacted by the cerebellar tonsils. Six months after posterior fossa decompression there was the disappearance of nuchal rigidity, vertigo, spastic paraparesis and improvement of balance. Nevertheless hyperreflexia and diminished pallesthesia of the lower limbs persisted.

Keywords

• basilar impression
• Chiari malformation
• syringomyelia
• posterior fossa decompression
• tight cisterna magna