LAUSR

...................................................................................................................... Introduction:Chiari 1 malformation has been approximately diagnosed in 1% to 4% of patientsundergoingbrainorcervicalspine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies,1,2. Chiari malformation type 1 (CM-1) is a common and often debilitating neurosurgical condition. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on outcomes research, including efforts to compare the results of various surgical approaches.3,4 To help facilitate more objective comparisons,severalgroupshaveproducedand/or validated different metrics to evaluate treatment outcomes.5-8 However, despite this growing interest in improved research methodology, evidencebased guidelines for surgical intervention are undefined. The decision to treat CM-1 surgically may be based on a variety of considerations, such as anticipated syrinx improvement and stabilization of spinal cord damage, as well as the risk of postoperative complications. The objective of this study was to use clinical and neuroimaging features to predict long-term patient-reported Quality of life outcomes in patients undergoing posterior fossa decompressions.