What is chiari

Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Chiari I Malformation? Many kids with Chiari I malformation have no symptoms. Treatment can help kids who do have them.

Signs and symptoms can include: headache especially after sneezing, coughing, or straining balance problems neck pain dizziness vision problems poor hand coordination numbness and tingling of the hands and feet change in bladder pee or bowel poop habits trouble swallowing hoarseness Sometimes, children with Chiari I malformation can also have: a syringomyelia ser-in-go-my-ILL-ee-uh : a fluid-filled space within the spinal cord hydrocephalus hi-droh-SEF-eh-less : a buildup of spinal fluid in the spaces deep within the brain sleep apnea: periods when breathing stops during sleep scoliosis : curvature of the spine What Causes Chiari I Malformation?

How Is a Chiari Malformation Treated? What Can Parents Do? To help your child stay healthy, follow your doctor's instructions for: making and keeping all follow-up appointments going for all recommended studies, such as X-rays or MRIs avoiding any activities, if recommended. Talk to your surgeon about the different surgical options and what the benefits and risks of each are.

The exact cause of Chiari I malformations is unknown. It tends to be present from birth, but is normally only found in adulthood when symptoms develop or when an MRI scan is done. Many cases are thought to be the result of part of the skull not being large enough for the brain.

Chiari I malformations can also develop in people with a tethered spinal cord, a build-up of fluid on the brain hydrocephalus , and some types of brain tumour. Chiari malformations can sometimes run in families. It's possible that some children born with it may have inherited a faulty gene that caused problems with their skull development. But the risk of passing a Chiari malformation on to your child is very small.

It is also called primary Chiari malformation type I. But it is often not found until a person is a teen or young adult. In rare cases, this type may also develop later in life. This is known as acquired or secondary Chiari malformation type I. The exact cause of a congenital Chiari malformation type I is not known.

A problem during fetal growth may cause the defect. It may be caused by contact with harmful substances during pregnancy. Or it may be linked with genetic problems that run in families. An acquired Chiari malformation type I happens to a person after birth.

It is caused by excess leaking of spinal fluid from the lower back lumbar or chest thoracic areas of the spine. This can happen because of an injury, contact with harmful substances, or an infection. Alan Cohen , chief of pediatric neurosurgery, gives an overview of the different types of Chiari malformations and how they're treated.

Cohen also explains why not all cases will need surgery. Chiari malformations are associated with the formation of a syrinx, a fluid-filled pocket, or cyst, in the spinal cord. This condition also known as syringomyelia. As the cyst fills with cerebrospinal fluid, it expands, putting pressure on the spinal cord. In some patients with a Chiari malformation, increasing pressure from a syrinx can affect neuromuscular function, causing limb weakness or difficulties with walking or breathing.

Some children will show signs of a spine syrinx, but others will not. In these situations, an MRI scan may be needed for a definite diagnosis. In children younger than 16 whose spines are still growing, the presence of a syrinx can also be associated with the development of scoliosis, an abnormal, lateral side-to-side curvature of the spine.

Toddlers, children and teens with undiagnosed type 1 Chiari malformations may develop headaches, which are typically located at the back of the head and neck, and are often made worse by exertion. Type 2 Chiari malformations can also be associated with hydrocephalus, a condition in which there is an obstruction of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid that is found inside of the ventricles fluid-filled areas inside of the brain. Sleep apnea is another problem that occurs in people with a Chiari malformation.

This is a serious sleep disorder characterized by brief interruptions in breathing during sleep. There's evidence that Chiari malformation runs in some families. However, research into a possible hereditary component is still in its early phase. In some people, Chiari malformation can become a progressive disorder and lead to serious complications. In others, there may be no associated symptoms, and no intervention is necessary.

The complications associated with this condition include:. Chiari malformation care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Chiari malformation Open pop-up dialog box Close. Chiari malformation In Chiari malformation surgery, doctors remove a small section of bone at the back of your skull to make room for part of your brain cerebellum and relieve pressure on your brainstem, cerebellum and spinal cord.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Chiari malformation fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed April 27, Ellenbogen R, et al, eds.