Chiari Malformation

A Chiari malformation is when the lowest part of the brain extends into the spinal canal. “Sometimes it starts to push on the brain stem and the top of the spinal cord, which are not very forgiving, and also, again, block that flow of spinal fluid through there,” said Pediatric Neurosurgeon Dr. Theodore Spinks.

There are many different types of Chiari malformations. “The important thing to know is they're really not exactly the same problem, or they have different sources,” said Dr. Spinks.

Surgery is not always necessary. “Now that we get MRIs on everyone all the time, I see patients with Chiari malformations all the time. And what it really boils down to is even if they have a real Chiari and there's really a descent to that cerebellum, if there's no symptoms, usually you do nothing. Because there may never be symptoms, you may never need anything,” said Dr. Spinks.

Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

[samjones]

Thank you for sharing this information