Chiari Malformation is a structural defect where brain tissue (usually the cerebellum) extends into the spinal canal due to a small or misshapen skull. This can block cerebrospinal fluid flow and compress the brainstem and spinal cord. Decompression surgery, typically called posterior fossa decompression, involves removing a small section of bone at the back of the skull to relieve pressure and restore fluid flow.
Common symptoms include severe headaches (especially when coughing or straining), neck pain, dizziness, balance issues, numbness or tingling in the limbs, difficulty swallowing, vision and hearing problems, and coordination difficulties.
Treatment depends on symptom severity. Mild cases may be monitored with regular imaging. For symptomatic cases, decompression surgery is the primary treatment. It may include bone removal, duraplasty (patching the dura mater), and sometimes spinal laminectomy. Recovery typically takes 6–8 weeks, and follow-up imaging is used to monitor cerebrospinal fluid flow.
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