HCPCS 61343

Craniectomy, suboccipital with cervical laminectomy for decompression of Chiari malformation and/or ventral brainstem compression with or without dural graft, and/or cerebellar tonsillectomy

AI EXPLANATION: Posterior fossa decompression surgery is a specialized neurosurgical procedure performed to relieve pressure on the brainstem and spinal cord, commonly caused by conditions such as Chiari malformation. During the operation, a surgeon removes a small section of bone at the back and base of the skull, and sometimes part of the upper neck vertebrae, to widen the area and relieve crowding. The surgeon may also open and patch the protective outer membrane of the brain with a graft to create extra space, allowing natural fluid to circulate freely around the brain and spinal cord.