Quick Facts About Chiari Malformation:

Quick Facts About Chiari Malformation:

• Affects more than 300,000 people in the US; 30% of children born with spina bifida are also born with a Chiari Malformation.
• Causes a wide ranging, diverse set of symptoms. Research has shown that 95% of patients experience at least 5 symptoms.
• Diagnosed using combination of MRI, neurological exam, physician’s judgment, and other tests; patients often go 5 or more years before being properly diagnosed.
• A study of over 300 Chiari Malformation patients found that 57% had at one time been told by a doctor they were suffering from a mental or emotional problem.
• Many patients undergo serious brain surgery in an attempt to stop symptoms from progressing.
• Research has shown that surgery can improve symptoms for about 80% of patients, but fails about 20% of the time.
• Chiari can place a tremendous physical, mental, emotional, and economic strain on patients and their families.
  
  
  Chiari I malformation: Diagnosis made on MRI. Syrinx associated with Chiari I malformation is usually treated with posterior fossa decompression. If the syrinx does not resolve, one would consider (re-explore the posterior fossa and expand the decompression; consideration of subtle craniocervical instability; consideration of benign intracranial hypertension; consideration of shunting the syrinx directly; others).