Treatment
While there is no current cure, the treatments for Chiari malformation are surgery and management of symptoms, based on the occurrence of clinical symptoms rather than the radiological findings. The presence of a syrinx is known to give specific signs and symptoms that vary from dysesthetic sensations to algothermal dissociation to spasticity and paresis. These are important indications that decompressive surgery is needed for patients with Chiari Malformation Type II. Type II patients have severe brain stem damage and rapidly diminishing neurological response.Decompressive surgery involves removing the lamina of the first and sometimes the second or third cervical vertebrae and part of the occipital bone of the skull to relieve pressure. The flow of spinal fluid may be augmented by a shunt. Since this surgery usually involves the opening of the dura mater and the expansion of the space beneath, a dural graft is usually applied to cover the expanded posterior fossa.A small number of neurological surgeons believe that detethering the spinal cord as an alternate approach relieves the compression of the brain against the skull opening (foramen magnum), obviating the need for decompression surgery and associated trauma. However, this approach is significantly less documented in the medical literature, with reports on only a handful of patients. The alternative spinal surgery is also not without risk.Complications of decompression surgery can arise. They include bleeding, damage to structures in the brain and spinal canal, meningitis, CSF fistulas, occipito-cervical instability and pseudomeningeocele. Rare post-operative complications include hydrocephalus and brain stem compression by retroflexion of odontoid.
Notable people
Rosanne Cash – U.S. singer-songwriter; daughter of Johnny Cash
Julia Clukey – U.S. luge competitor for Team USA in 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics
Joanna David – British television and stage actress
J. B. Holmes – U.S. professional golfer
Marissa Irwin – U.S. fashion model with Chiari secondary to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Bobby Jones – U.S. World Golf Hall of Fame golfer and founder of the Augusta National Golf Club
Allysa Seely – U.S. Gold Medalist at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in the paratriathlon
Leah Shapiro – U.S. drummer for the band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Michelle Stilwell – Canadian wheelchair racer and politician
Rachid Taha – Algerian singer
Sabre Norris – Australian skateboarder and surfer

See also

Hypermobility spectrum disorder


== References ==