What is it about?
Chiari malformation is a common disorder due to crowding of the brain structures at the base of the skull. It can cause many different symptoms, the most common being headache. This study is the first to describe a more complex version of Chiari malformation, a version we call the Complex Chiari. It is characterized by abnormalities at the base of the skull and kinking of the brainstem, along with cerebellar tonsil herniation. A portion of these patients do not respond to typical surgical decompression and require fusion surgery.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
There is a subset of Chiari patients that are more involved and complex than others. They should try to seek consultation with neurosurgeons who are experienced with different forms of the disorder. This study helps to define that group of patients.
Perspectives
As a pediatric neurosurgeon, there are many patients I see who are misclassified and undergo inappropriate Chiari surgery. This paper helps to define that group of patients and avoid unnecessary suffering and cost.
Douglas Brockmeyer
University of Utah
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Complex Chiari malformations in children: an analysis of preoperative risk factors for occipitocervical fusion, Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics, August 2012, Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group (JNSPG),
DOI: 10.3171/2012.3.peds11340.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
