Chiari malformation is a condition in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal. Spine experts classify this condition into three types based on the anatomy of the brain tissue moving into the spinal canal and whether there are problems with the development of the brain or spine, although two types are the most common. can be observed in patients. Keep reading this post!
What is Chiari malformation?
Chiari malformation is a condition characterized by the descent of a part of the cerebellum. and sometimes through the greater occipital foramen, which may or may not be accompanied by an increase in cerebrospinal fluid within the skull. The cerebellum is the organ responsible for controlling balance and neuromuscular coordination.
It is believed that the occurrence of Chiari malformation is 1 in every 1,000 births but, with the increase in the use of diagnostic tests, this number could be increased and it could be a more common disease.
Causes and types of Arnold-Chiari malformation in adults
Within what encompasses Chiari malformations, there are five types, which are probably not related to each other and it is very common to find patients with type 1 and 2 malformations.
Chiari malformations appear due to natural causes, when the part of the skull that contains the brain is too small or has some deformity, so that it exerts pressure and its lower part moves towards the spinal canal.
Although the exact cause of the appearance of a Chiari malformation is not known, it is believed that a problem during fetal development could cause abnormal brain formation. Likewise, other theories suggest that exposure to chemicals, a lack of vitamins and nutrients, and an infection during pregnancy can predispose the problem to having this disease.
Chiari malformation type 1
Chiari malformation type 1 occurs when the section of the skull that contains part of the brain, the cerebellum, is too small or deformed, so that it pushes and exerts pressure on the brain. The lower part of the cerebellum, known as the tonsils, moves toward the upper spinal canal.
Chiari malformation type 2
Chiari type 2 malformations can be commonly seen in babies born with spina bifida. In this case, the amount of cerebrospinal fluid that descends through the spinal canal is greater than in type I. The main cause of Chiari malformation type 2 appears as a consequence of the spinal cord and spinal canal not closing adequately. before being born.
Signs and symptoms of Chiari malformation type 1
In many cases of Patients with Chiari malformation type 1 may be asymptomatic, or the symptoms may never be severe enough to trigger a diagnosis, usually appearing during late childhood or adulthood.
Some of the most common symptoms of a type 1 Chiari malformation can be headaches, which appear after suddenly coughing, sneezing, or straining. Neck pain, dizziness, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, along with poor coordination of the upper extremities and an unstable gait are very common symptoms in patients who have a condition of this type.
Likewise, although frequently, Patients with type 2 Chiari malformation present a curvature of the spine related to deterioration of the spinal cord, along with breathing problems.
Symptoms of Arnold-Chiari malformation type 2
As indicated above, the signs and symptoms of Chiari malformation type 2 are related to those of spina bifida. Some of these symptoms are changes in breathing patterns, rapid eye movements to both sides, weakness in the arms, and swallowing problems.
Diagnosis and treatment of Chiari Malformation
To diagnose a Chiari malformation First of all, the specialist will review the medical history, evaluating the symptoms of each patient and performing a first physical examination. Diagnostic tests that may be performed to confirm the diagnosis may be x-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI.
Treatment of Chiari malformation depends on the severity and characteristics of the condition. In cases where the symptoms are very evident, surgery is required to alleviate these signs and stop the evolution of this pathology. The most common surgery to treat malformations is posterior fossa decompression.
If you present any of the symptoms indicated in this post, we recommend that you contact a spine expert. At ICAC we have a team of expert spine traumatologists that can help you recover your quality of life. Thanks to the most advanced spine techniques, we will be able to provide you with the best service. Count on us!
57 thoughts on “Qué son, tipos y diagnóstico de las malformaciones de Arnold-Chiari”
The whole explanation that is given is interesting, I like to read about it because I am a person with this malformation, I underwent surgery thirteen years ago, they performed a craniotomy, then a couple of years later they performed a spinal decompression, placing a catheter to drain the liquid. What I suffer from at present is half of my body (right) from not having sensitivity. It is difficult sometimes to be very careful not to hurt myself because I don't realize it
Good morning, Veronica.
Thank you very much for sharing your testimony on our trauma blog. We are very sorry for your condition.
All the best.
Hello. I recently had a congenital Arnolchiari malformation in the MRI. They sent me to the neurologist but the head and neck pain, dizziness and tenderness in the feet when I get out of bed or sofa are very common, a lot of vertigo as well. Thanks for the information.
Good morning, Olga.
We are very sorry for your condition. We hope that our post has been helpful to you. You can go to our specialist traumatologists If necessary.
All the best.
Hello, David called me, I have neuralgia, Ar
Nol Chiari type 2 since, 20 years ago, recent
Mind you they have removed the Neiro stimulator
Which had been implanted due to rejection of pus, and
Infection, now I would consider surgery
Instead, go back to the unit of do
Lor, although everything seems very simple, the
Battery and all the cable is a beating and on top of that, you
All in all, very good article.
Good morning David,
Thank you very much for commenting on the ICAC blog. We are very sorry for the situation you are in. In your case, we recommend that you consult with a spine specialist to determine the most appropriate treatment for your pathology. You can make an appointment with our expert spine traumatologists in Madrid in the link provided.
All the best.
Good afternoon. They don't have NEURO ORTHOPEDIC equipment?
integrating neurosurgeons with columnologists?
thank you
Good morning, Alberto.
Thanks for your comment.
Yes, we have a team specialized in this field. You can request an appointment at our trauma clinic through the link provided.
All the best.
Hello or as I say holisss since May of last year 2022 I stopped walking and when I said how I was feeling they scheduled two MRI scans. Unfortunately they said I have a hole in my skull and they said it is a disease from birth. Here I find myself realizing that what is said here is how I feel but for me now everything is greater because they still don't know what causes me to not be able to walk, I have already done studies on my legs and nothing comes out and nothing bad came out in the MRI in my legs. Everything is hard. When you cough, everything hurts. When you sneeze, I don't sneeze normally like everyone else. I sneeze without making a sound and everything hurts. Breathing hurts. It's like my ribs are closing every day, it hurts more to live like this. Thanks for the information
Good morning, Rachel.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience with other readers. We are very sorry for your condition.
You can request an appointment with our Madrid traumatologists if you wish,
All the best.
Hello. More than 10 years ago I had MRIs and they concluded that I had Chiari disease. The discomfort was horrible [my stiff neck. involuntary movements in the hands when writing, insomnia, swelling in the face, tremors, headaches, etc.] The doctor suggested surgery but I felt afraid.
Someone recommended decompression exercises, daily stretching, avoiding heavy loads. This is how I have alleviated the discomfort.
Good morning Ines,
Thank you for visiting our trauma blog.
Depending on the degree you suffer from Chiari (if it incapacitates you, reproduces clear symptoms...), you must undergo an operation. We can study your case in our trauma center.
All the best.
Hi Ines,
What type of exercises do you do?
I also have Chiari I
Thank you
Very interesting, I went to the traumatologist for my spine and he ordered an MRI to be done. He put in the order a diagnosis of Chiari syndrome. It's the first time I've heard of this. He didn't say anything. Now I have to wait for the result. I'm a little scared. I suffer from a lot of headaches. and now my feet hurt my calf my spine
Good morning Rosa,
We are very sorry for your condition. If you wish, you can contact our specialized traumatologists to offer you the treatment most appropriate to your pathology.
All the best.
Do you have clinics in Seville?
Hello Elisabel,
At the moment we do not have centers in Seville, you can request an appointment online or come to our center in Madrid.
We are sorry and a hug.
Hello, my 9-year-old son was diagnosed with Chiari, they sent us to consult with a neurosurgeon. I have certain doubts because he does not present any of these symptoms, the occasional headache, but sporadic. If you have a slight developmental delay with difficulties in being able to speak correctly. The question that can be asked is, is anything related to anything I mentioned? Whether Chiari can cause speech disorders? Could it be another symptom? Thank you
Hello Marcelo, in this case we regret to tell you that you have to consult with your neurologist. With the symptoms you mention and given the complexity associated with the speech alteration, I do not dare to make statements to you without reviewing all the patient's tests and performing a complete clinical examination.
Yes, according to the testimony of mothers with children with Arnold Chiari, they have suffered from this problem. It is a condition that sometimes does not present symptoms, but when they usually appear they are different in each person.
Hello! My name is Carolina, I am from Argentina. I was diagnosed with Arnold Chiari a year ago. The symptoms I suffer from are disabling headaches, numbness and tingling in my hands, loss of balance, and fainting. They are studying a possible epilepsy but haven't found anything yet. The doctors here say that Chiari alone cannot cause all these symptoms, so they are looking to find another pathology. Will this be possible?
Hello Caroline.
If possible. Therefore, all possible causes of dizziness must be ruled out, but the disease, depending on its degree, can cause these symptoms.
Greetings
Hi, good morning!
The information they present seems excellent for me who has just been diagnosed and I have many doubts.
Something they don't mention is if it is a condition that can be inherited, could my son and/or daughter who sometimes complain of symptoms similar to mine also have it?
Thank you for your time and response.
Hello Atzi,
There is evidence that this malformation can be inherited in some cases, although it is not so common. It would be best to take this into account and carry out the necessary tests to rule out that this is not what they have.
Greetings
Hello, a few months ago my 14-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Chiar. She has hydrocephalus with 2 shunt valves in her head.
I want to know if a person with chiari can develop normally... and what do you think about the operation with expanders in the cranial vault.
Hi Estefania,
It depends a lot on the Chiari grade. There are very mild cases in which the patient may be asymptomatic. or it may require surgery. To tell you in your daughter's case, we should see her and study the case in detail.
Greetings
Hello, I would like to know if you review high level surgeries of the neck C1 and C2, I have to have a full neck fixation having these two already fixed C1 C2 by basilar impression but I move my neck and I shouldn't and I need help, please, I have horrible pain .
Hello Maria,
Yes of course. You can make an appointment by calling 910 053 900 and one of our specialists will review your case in detail to see the steps to follow and the best treatment for your particular case.
Greetings
Well, my baby, who is 5 months pregnant, suffers from Chiari syndrome type 2. The doctors think that he probably will not survive, but at least they filled me with information about it, although I would like to know if my baby can survive when he is born?
Hello Blanca,
It is best that you follow the advice of the specialists who are treating you, since they are the ones who have all the information about your case.
We wish you the best.
Hello, good evening, I'm pregnant. They ordered me to do an MRI, so my head hurt a lot. I had a slight decrease in the cerebellar tonsils, 5.5mm, and the neurologist told me that it's not something to worry about, but it worries me because I still have stitches. in the head
Hello Yuneisy,
First of all, if the doctor told you that there is nothing to worry about then it will not be anything serious. In any case, if you are not comfortable with the diagnosis, it is always advisable to seek a second opinion.
Greetings
Chiari 1 or 1.5 usually has symptoms, either less or more than Chiari 1 or 2. In some cases, you can have 5.5 mm of descent and suffer from more than one symptom, and people with up to 14 mm are asymptomatic. There is no general rule regarding descent and symptoms.
I had surgery 20 years ago, with a craniectomy, but although the process stopped a little, now I have many symptoms. ,,rotary nystagmus if I laugh a lot or sneeze I go black, but above all there are episodes with a lot of headache,,,but I keep going,,,despite everything Life is beautiful,🥰
Hello Monica,
Attitude is essential for recovery.
Good luck.
Greetings
Hi, I'm fine. I've been sick all my life, but working and all my life with pain, I have scoliosis, spinal rotations, fibromyalgia for 15 years, among other diseases that I'm not going to name, because they are autoimmune and I think they have nothing to do with this disease. Three years ago I had surgery for cervical myelopathy, c6 and c7, I improved due to unblocking of the spinal cord and I have less pain, and my question is the following: I have pain, behind the ear where the neck ends and there is a little prominence of the skull, there is me It usually hurts a lot, I have instability when walking sometimes, discomfort when swallowing, weakness in the arms and hands, dizziness, vertigo, always tired, I sleep little and badly and I am always too tired to even go out for a walk, my day is 9 After 3 years I can't handle my body anymore, my question is that I am misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia and it would be that I have Shiari disease, because many of the symptoms or. So I have them all, could you tell me
The steps to follow to know what I have to do, thank you
At least have a better quality of life, gra6
Hello Fine,
We have to know your complete medical history, otherwise we cannot determine if the other pathologies you suffer from are influencing these symptoms you mention.
You can make an appointment by calling 91 005 39 00 and a team of professionals will study your case in detail.
Greetings
Can Chiari disease appear spontaneously in a 64-year-old woman? I have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. They took an MRI in June 2022. What appeared is cervical hernias with nerve friction. Do Chiari disease and cervical hernias give the same symptoms?
Hello Teresa,
Some symptoms may be similar, although it is best to rule it out with a diagnostic test. Many people who suffer from this pathology do not present symptoms and others begin to show them in adulthood.
Greetings
They did a mri.sali with chari and I have 11.5cm on the right side and 5.5cm on the left. They give me strange things in my head that I have never felt in my 80 years since I am from Puerto Rico
Hello Elisa,
Symptoms may appear in adulthood. Consult with your doctor how to treat the symptoms.
Greetings
Good afternoon, I have a decrease in the cerebellar tonsils of 3mm, the neurologist tells me that he does not associate it with Chiari although I suffer from all the symptoms, is this possible?
Hello Ana,
If it is what the doctor who studied your case and saw the evidence says, a priori, it is possible.
You can make a second consultation to be sure.
Greetings
Hello, I'm Carolina, I have chiari type 1 with a decrease of 13 mm and several symptoms. I want to know what happens if I didn't have the operation. Is it possible that I can continue my life without the operation?
Hello Caroline,
In principle, if everything goes well, yes.
But check with your specialist for possible consequences.
Greetings
Good afternoon, I was referred to the ENT for dizziness. He ordered an MRI and it showed that I have Chiari 1. I have searched for information on the Internet and the truth is that it scares me quite a bit.
I have constant pain at the end of my spine, dizziness, throbbing headaches, I use CPAP, hoarseness, choking, constant tingling in the soles of my feet and hands, neck pain, and I could go on.
I have an appointment with the neurosurgeon in November, but I would like to know if there is any type of exercise or stretching for back pain, as it is unbearable.
It hurts when I'm standing, sitting or even lying down. I take Paracetamol and Ibuprofen but I don't want to be like this all the time.
Hello Yolanda,
I understand your concern about the Chiari 1 diagnosis and the symptoms you are experiencing. It is essential that you follow your doctor's instructions and wait for the consultation with the neurosurgeon for a detailed evaluation.
As for back pain, while you wait for your appointment, it is recommended that you do gentle stretching and exercises that do not aggravate your symptoms.
Avoid sudden movements or activities that may worsen your symptoms. The key is to maintain mobility without overloading the spine.
I hope you find relief soon.
Greetings
Good morning, blessings. 2 years ago I was tested for chary but in tests. Just like the 4 vein thyroidography, nothing came out, it was like a catheterization. I am 50 but I really can't stand headaches.
My mother had Arnold Chiari type 1 surgery 17 months ago, and the truth is that she is in good health.
At 6 months they discovered that she had hydrocephalus, they operated on her and placed a valve
But the truth is that her health continues to deteriorate.
I was interested in reading your blog to see if I could find something that could explain why I continue to have pain on the left side and in the brain but no
Anyway, thank you very much for the information
Hello Diana,
If you continue to have pain and other symptoms after the surgeries, it would be helpful to consult again with your neurosurgeon to evaluate whether the valve is functioning properly or if there is another contributing factor.
We hope you find relief soon and that your medical appointments provide you with more clarity. If you need more details or any additional suggestions, you can make an appointment with our team by calling 910053900.
Greetings
Hi, I'm Ligia and I live in Guatemala. I had surgery about 13 years ago after suffering tremendously from this malformation and being misdiagnosed. I can't say that I don't feel discomfort at times, since I understand that it's a condition that will affect my entire life. But I can't help but be grateful because it's meant a complete change for my life. I went from having a 98% headache to a 2% on a few occasions. To anyone who suffers from this condition! Go consult it; that is DEFINITELY not what life is all about. Thanks for your blog!!
Hello Ligia,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. We're so happy to hear that your quality of life has improved significantly after surgery. We're so grateful for your kind words and for following our blog.
Greetings!
Hello, good evening. Several months ago I was diagnosed with Chiari 1. I have headaches, neck pain, and pain in the spine, and often pressure in the back of my head. I slur my speech and have considerable memory problems. I had a polysomnography and it turned out to have moderate obstructive sleep apnea. The MRI showed a 14 mm decrease in the cerebellar tonsils. I will have an appointment with a neurosurgeon and he wants to know if it is possible that I may have to have surgery.
Hello Beatriz Elena,
The indication for surgery in Chiari syndrome depends on several factors: the intensity and progression of symptoms, MRI findings, and the presence of associated complications such as syringomyelia or respiratory disorders such as apnea. After reviewing all the tests and your clinical condition, the specialist will be able to assess whether surgery is necessary or whether conservative treatment alternatives can be considered.
The most important thing is that you're being monitored and that you'll soon have an appointment with neurosurgery. They'll be able to provide you with personalized guidance to help you decide the best course of action.
Greetings.
Hello, my name is Carmen Ortiz.
I have Arnold Chiarii type 1, I have had 2 surgeries and I understand people who suffer from this disease.
And the pain is always there, good days and bad days. It's about taking one day at a time... I hope for improvement for everyone.
Hello, my name is Raquel!
I live in Chicago, Illinois, in July 2024 I was diagnosed with Chiari malformation, I started with very severe headaches which even when coughing, bending over or straining my head hurt, stiff neck, choking, numbness in my hands and feet, very tired, blurred vision, runny nose and ear, I fell asleep on the left side of my face, weakness when walking, but the most worrying thing that is happening to me is the unbearable back pain it seems like they are pricking me to the point of not being able to stand for more than 10 minutes because I simply cannot, I went to the neurosurgeon and he recommended surgery, but watching so many documentaries I am scared, besides I am not that young anymore I am 53 years old and of course I am scared, the neurosurgeon recommended me to seek another second opinion.
Hello Rachel,
Thank you for sharing your experience. Chiari malformation can cause very intense and debilitating symptoms, so each case must be evaluated individually and thoroughly before making a decision.
Your concerns are completely valid, and seeking a second opinion is a highly recommended step. To help you properly, our specialists will need to review your tests and medical history, in addition to conducting a detailed assessment.
If you'd like, we can arrange a consultation with our medical team to analyze your case with the attention and care it deserves.
Greetings.