Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 1, 2026
Author Spotlight: Studying Clinical Characters and Epilepsy Outcomes After Frontal Disconnection in Patients with MOGHE
Published on: August 16, 2024
Chiari I malformation in children with transverse myelitis
Sathya Vadivelu1, Sudhakar Vadivelu2,3, Maureen Mealy4
1a Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine , Johns Hopkins University and the Kennedy Krieger Institute , Baltimore , MD , USA.
Purpose:
Transverse myelitis (TM) is an acute inflammatory spinal cord injury. Asymptomatic Chiari I malformation (CMI) management is highly controversial, particularly when associated with a spinal syrinx. Here, we assess the occurrence of CMI in the pediatric TM population and management outcomes.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective cohort study based on 61 consecutively identified pediatric TM cases over an -8-year period. We reviewed demographic characteristics, radiographic findings, presenting symptoms, and long-term outcomes.
Results:
Eight CMI cases were identified within the TM cohort; all presented with TM by 16 months of age and affecting the cervical spinal cord. In three cases, CMI developed 15 months to 6 years after the onset of TM. One in 10 children with TM had CMI.
Conclusion:
These findings demonstrate a high prevalence of CMI in patients with TM. Large prospective clinical studies are needed to further investigate the natural history and recovery strategies of CMI involved with neuroinflammatory disorders.
