Chiari Malformation Symptoms

Chiari malformation is the malformation of a part of the brain. It is a medical condition in which brain tissues (cerebral tonsils) project out into the spinal canal (foramen magnum). Most of the time, this condition occurs due to some irregularities and conditions of the skull, like abnormally smaller sized skull or misshapen skull, which press down these tissues into the spinal canal. Also called Arnold-Chiari malformation, this disorder is very uncommon and not often diagnosed without any special tests.

Chiari malformation leads to accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid into brain cavities, a medical condition called 'hydrocephalus'. There are also chances of blockage of this fluid as a result of this displacement of such important parts of the brain. It is divided into two main types as type I (Chiari malfunction in adults) and type II (Chiari malfunction in children). It is not always that a persons encounters the symptoms, as they could also be concealed until any specific tests are performed.

Chiari malformation symptoms vary as per the severity and the type of the malformation. Symptoms of Chiari malformation type I appear in late childhood or early adulthood. While pediatric Chiari malformation (type II) symptoms can be detected by simple ultrasounds performed during pregnancy, let's see the symptoms divided by each type. Along with the ones mentioned below, there are some symptoms in toddlers and infants that can further be distributed into type III (a condition in which cerebellum extends to back of the skull) and type IV (a condition in which the brain is not developed properly, in the first place). These two types are not so common and they could also be detected by a simple intrauterine ultrasound test, performed on pregnant woman.

Type I Chiari Malformation Symptoms
Here are the possible signs and symptoms that are usually observed in adults, and also children that are in their late childhood.

• Severe neck pain that runs in downward direction, along with chest pain
• Balancing problems or unsteadiness while walking
• Difficulty in fine motor skills or lack of hand-eye coordination
• Stuttered speech, dizziness and blur or doubled vision
• Tingling in hands and feet along with numbness
• Difficulty in swallowing that sometimes results into vomiting and chocking
• Tinnitus or ringing in one or both the ears
• Loss and lack of bladder control
• Abnormal bending of the spine and abnormal breathing

Type II Chiari Malformation Symptoms
This is one of the most common types of malformation which is congenital and develops along with the body system. This disorder is deeply related to 'myelomeningocele' or 'spina bifida cystica', which is a neural tube defect, characterized by underdevelopment of the spinal cord. In this condition, the affected person suffers from headaches which is most often confused with migraines. Tremendous pressure in the back of the head is also one of the symptoms of the Chiari malformation. If undetected before the childbirth, these symptoms could also be somewhat similar to that of multiple sclerosis.

Treatment
As most of the cases are asymptomatic, meaning, there are hardly any noticeable symptoms, it gets very difficult to determine the disorder, in the first place. The only solution is to go and visit a doctor if you find the child suffering from any of the mentioned symptoms, that are sequent and unmanageable after taking all the curative measures. As we can see, each of the symptoms of Chiari malformation are similar to symptoms of some other disorders, which makes it all the more confusing.

There are few tests like x-ray, MRI scan and CT scan of the head and neck that can be used for determining the severity of the disorder and need for surgery. In case of excessive spinal fluid, there is always the need of a surgery that facilitates safe removal of the fluid. As far as the researches related to Chiari malformation go, surgery is the only available option to treat this malformation. There are a few complications involved when it comes to surgery and hence it is a test of skill as far as the surgeon is concerned.

Hope the article above provided you with all the required information related to Chiari malformation and its symptoms.