Complex Chiari Malformations in Children: Diagnosis and Management

Douglas L Brockmeyer; Heather S Spader

doi:10.1016/j.nec.2015.06.002

Complex Chiari Malformations in Children: Diagnosis and Management

Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2015 Oct;26(4):555-60. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2015.06.002. Epub 2015 Aug 4.

Authors

Douglas L Brockmeyer¹, Heather S Spader²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Primary Children's Hospital, University of Utah, 100 Mario Capecchi Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA. Electronic address: Douglas.Brockmeyer@hsc.utah.edu.
² Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Primary Children's Hospital, University of Utah, 100 Mario Capecchi Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA.

PMID: 26408065
DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2015.06.002

Abstract

This article describes the diagnosis and management of patients with complex Chiari malformations. This group of patients cannot be categorized as a Chiari 1 or 1.5 because the pathology and progression of their disease is unique. The authors discuss how to diagnose and treat patients with complex Chiari malformations, particularly with regard to discerning which patients would benefit from a simple Chiari decompression versus Chiari decompression with occipitocervical fusion.

Keywords: Basilar invagination; Clivocervical angle; Complex Chiari; Retroflexed odontoid.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Arnold-Chiari Malformation / diagnosis*
Arnold-Chiari Malformation / surgery*
Cervical Vertebrae / surgery*
Child
Decompression, Surgical* / instrumentation
Decompression, Surgical* / methods
Humans
Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods
Spinal Fusion / methods
Treatment Outcome