Abstract： Objective To explore the techniques, indications and complications of the surgery for intracranial arachnoid cysts (IACs) in children. Methods The clinical data of 53 children with intracranial arachnoidal cysts were anlyzed retrospectivley. The craniotomy was performed for resecting part of the walls of IACs and opening subarachnoid cavity and relative cistern in 42 patients; the cystoperitoneal shunt was performed in 10 patients, and the endoscopic fenestrations of IACs in 1 case. Results All the patients have good recovery after the operation, the clinical symptoms got improved in different degrees. 13 cases showed hyperpyrexia (>39.1℃) after operation and consistant fever (duration was longer than 3 days); Subcutanous hydrops happened in 8 cases. 2 cases took duraneoplast again. CT scans which were took more than 3 months after operation showed that IACs were completely obliterated or obviously decreased in 50 cases and unchanged in 3 cases. Conclusions All the above 3 operation types were effective methods to cure IACs of children, we should pay more attention to individualized healing and prevention of the complications after the operations.