What is Arnold Chiari I malformation?
Arnold Chiari I Malformation is a congenital condition in which the lowest lying portion of the back of the brain is crowded out of its normal place inside the skull. These downwardly displaced structures, the cerebellar tonsils, can compress parts of the brainstem or upper spinal cord and block the normal flow of spinal fluid into and out of the head. What are the symptoms of Chiari I Malformation? These structural abnormalities can lead to headaches as well as a variety of other neurological symptoms including: • swallowing problems • dizziness • vision problems • clumsiness • spasticity of the limbs • sudden “drop attacks” where the legs seem to buckle for no reason Symptoms may be worse when the neck is flexed or extended. Many of the most significant neurological symptoms begin during childhood. The most serious complication is a syrinx (syringohydromyelia), a fluid-filled cavity in the spinal cord that can result in permanent numbness and weakness in the arms, among other symptom
