ARNOLD-CHIARI MALFORMATION

Course overview

ARNOLD-CHIARI OR CHIARI MALFORMATIONS DESCRIBE A GROUP OF DEFORMITIES OF THE POSTERIOR FOSSA AND HINDBRAIN, WHICH INCLUDES THE CEREBELLUM, PONS, AND MEDULLA OBLONGATA. THESE DEFORMITIES LEAD TO PROBLEMS RANGING FROM CEREBELLAR TONSILLAR HERNIATION THROUGH THE FORAMEN MAGNUM TO THE ABSENCE OF THE CEREBELLUM, WITH OR WITHOUT OTHER ASSOCIATED INTRACRANIAL OR EXTRACRANIAL DEFECTS SUCH AS HYDROCEPHALUS, ENCEPHALOCELE, SYRINX, OR SPINAL DYSRAPHISM. THIS ACTIVITY EXAMINES WHEN THIS CONDITION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WITHIN A DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND HOW TO EVALUATE THE PATIENT FOR IT PROPERLY. THIS ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.