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As medical technology advances and certain types of testing become more commonplace, certain conditions that were once thought to be quite rare may be detected more frequently. This is the case for Chiari malformations. Although you may have never heard this term, the neurosurgeons here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center believe strongly in educating our readers about these potential health concerns and the effects they can have. That’s why we have taken some time to answer a few simple questions about Chiari malformations.
A Chiari malformation may occur when part of the skull is abnormally small or misshapen, putting pressure on the brain and forcing it downward. This causes brain tissue in the lower portion of the skull to extend into the spinal canal. The additional pressure put on the brain stem and spinal cord can block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to the spine.
In many cases, a Chiari malformation will not cause any symptoms. This is why despite being congenital, they are often not detected until later in life. However this is not always the case. For some people, a Chiari malformation can lead to several symptoms including severe headaches, weakness or numbness in the extremities, scoliosis, problems balancing, difficulty swallowing, ringing in the ears, dizziness, blurred vision, and snoring.
Diagnosing a Chiari malformation begins by performing a comprehensive neurological exam including imaging studies like an MRI of the brain and spine. Some cases may require a specialized study called a CINE MRI that allows us to look at the cerebrospinal fluid flow at the region of the compression in order to make a diagnosis. Once a diagnosis has been made, we will consider all treatment options based on the severity of the symptoms. For patients with no or only mild symptoms we may recommend close observation including neurological check-ups and MRI scans. For those with a more serious condition, we can perform a highly effective brain surgery known as posterior fossa decompression that is designed to relieve pressure on your brain.
We hope you found this information informative. Although Chiari malformations may seem complicated, our board-certified neurosurgeons have considerable experience treating them and helping patients find relief from their symptoms. For more information, or if you would like a second opinion on an initial diagnosis, please contact Georgia Brain & Spine Center at 1 (800) GO-SPINE to schedule a consultation today. And follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, updates, and much more.
The human brain and nervous system comprise one of the, if not the, most complex systems known to humankind. Accordingly, neurosurgeons treat a wide variety of conditions and perform several different specialized surgeries. Here on our website, you can explore the brain and spine conditions we treat and procedures we perform at Georgia Brain & Spine, and we encourage patients to educate themselves on their conditions and treatment options. We also believe that a productive dialogue between patient and doctor is paramount, and we intend to use this blog to communicate with patients and potential patients in valuable ways. We want to provide readers with useful advice and interesting information, but we also want to express who we are as healthcare providers. Here are some of the main things we’d like you to know about our practice:
At Georgia Brain & Spine, we believe in taking the surgical approach only when it’s the safest option, or when available nonsurgical methods have not produced the results we’re looking for. Neurosurgery is highly sophisticated, safe, and effective when performed by an experienced neurosurgeon, but surgery of any kind always carries some level of risk. Therefore, we only pursue surgery after establishing that it’s the safest and most effective way to address our patient’s issues and fully informing him or her of our reasoning.
One of the most innovative methods we use for removing tumors in highly sensitive areas like the brain and spine is called Cyberknife radiosurgery. This technique uses targeted radiation to remove tumors and treat some other conditions without breaking the skin. For a patient whose tumor is at a location or of a size that makes traditional open surgery more risky, a patient who’s in poor health, or a patient who simply wants to avoid open surgery, Cyberknife radiosurgery may be the best option.
Another procedure we specialize in is the epidural injection. The epidural space is the location in the spine outside the covering of the nerves (called the dura) and inside the spinal canal. We can deliver medications into this space to help decrease inflammation of nerves and help pain. You’ve probably heard about the epidural’s ability to make childbirth less painful for the mother, but there are several different types of epidurals with various applications. The most common consists of a combination of an anesthetic and an anti-inflammatory steroid that’s extremely effective for pain management. Depending on a number of factors, including the area of the spine being treated, one of several epidural injections may be used.
We’ve only scratched the surface of the conditions we treat, the procedures we perform, and what makes our approach to neurosurgery special. If you’ve received a diagnosis for a spinal or brain issue and would like a second opinion, or if you have any questions about the many procedures we perform, contact Georgia Brain & Spine at 1 (800) GO-SPINE today to schedule a free consultation. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and to come back to the website next week for a new blog.
