Ask the Experts Dr. Bolognese answers

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I asked our experts some questions, and this is the questions and answers

from Dr. Bolognese,

For those new to CCI, Dr. Bolognese is at The Chiari Institute in NY.

1. When a patient has EDS, is there more scar tissue involved post op?

The scar formation is mainly function of the surgical technique used in

opening and closing.

EDS is a problem about suboptimal wound healing, often leading to wound

dehiescence.

EDS per se does not lead to more scar deposition.

Lastly, from a clinical perspective, intradural scar is way more important

than the extradural one, which is often the object of undeserved attention.

2. When a patient's body seems to vibrate inside, what is the reason?

Compression or dysfunction of the posterior columns (spinal cord) can cause

that.

3. In the case of Chiari/Hydro with the reversal of the lordotic curve,

which occurs... Are there any symptoms that this curve reversal itself can

cause?

The reversal of the curve is the effect of the muscle spasm, which is in

turn triggered by pain and discomfort.

When the muscle spasm becomes a chronic issue, it causes pain of its own.

4. Can CM patients SCUBA dive after being decompressed?

My personal opinion is NO and I do not recommend it to our patients..

From a general standpoint it is probably safe in most of the well

decompressed cases, but I cannot forget the many patients I have seen in my

clinical experience in which a SCUBA excursion was the trigger for the

return of the symptoms.