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Opinion for different centers: surgical experience with Chiari malformation type I in children at Xuanwu Hospital, China

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the presenting symptoms, surgical strategy, and outcome in children with Chiari malformation type I (CM-I).

Methods

The medical records of children who were diagnosed with CM-I under 14 years old and subsequently underwent surgery for CM-I between 2014 and 2018 were reviewed. The medical records for presentation, radiological image, surgical intervention, and outcome were evaluated.

Results

Twelve children with CM-I and syringomyelia were included. All of the children were symptomatic. The most common presenting symptom was weakness, followed by scoliosis. All of them underwent posterior fossa decompression with/without duraplasty. Relief of preoperative pathologies and syringomyelia was experienced by all of them.

Conclusions

The presenting symptoms of CM-I in children may be neurological deficits and scoliosis, which have a relationship with syringomyelia. Early recognition and a tailored operative procedure of CM-I in children could lead to good outcomes. Additional therapies for syringomyelia and scoliosis could be avoided.

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Author notes

  1. Wang Kai, Wu Hao and Fengzeng Jian contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, 45 Changchun Street, Beijing, 100053, China

    Wang Kai, Wu Hao, Fengzeng Jian & Zeng Gao

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  1. Wang Kai
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Correspondence to Zeng Gao.

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Wang, K., Wu, H., Fengzeng, J. et al. Opinion for different centers: surgical experience with Chiari malformation type I in children at Xuanwu Hospital, China. Childs Nerv Syst 35, 1915–1919 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-019-04230-z

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