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The complex Chiari: issues and management strategies

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Abstract

“Complex Chiari” malformations may be defined as cerebellar tonsil herniation combined with one or more of the following radiographic findings: brainstem herniation through the foramen magnum (Chiari 1.5 malformation), medullary kink, retroflexed odontoid, abnormal clival-cervical angle, occipitalization of the atlas, basilar invagination, syringomyelia or scoliosis. Patients with “complex Chiari” malformation are different from those with typical Chiari 1 malformation in that their management strategy has a higher chance of including other operative interventions aside from a typical suboccipital decompression. These other operative procedures include odontoid resection and craniocervical fusion. This paper outlines specific scenarios where these other operative procedures must be considered and carried out.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this article.

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  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Primary Children’s Medical Center, University of Utah, 100 N. Mario Capecchi Dr, Salt Lake City, UT, 84113, USA

    Douglas L. Brockmeyer

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  1. Douglas L. Brockmeyer
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Correspondence to Douglas L. Brockmeyer.

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Brockmeyer, D.L. The complex Chiari: issues and management strategies. Neurol Sci 32 (Suppl 3), 345–347 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0690-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0690-5

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