BACKGROUND: Chiari I malformation is a rare disease characterized by cerebellar amygdalae descent under the level of the foramen magnum. It causes troubles in cerebrospinal fluid circulation and direct compression on brainstem, producing characteristic headaches, neurological impairment and syringomyelia. Surgery is the only treatment, indicated when symptomatology exists. However, sometimes patients complaint about atypical symptoms that are difficult to interpret. We would like to study one of these atypical symptoms, gait imbalance, in a pediatric population thanks to a computerized dynamic posturography (Equitest®). METHOD: infants from 6 to 18 years of age presenting a radiologically confirmed Chiari I malformation will be included in the study. We will compare posturographic results of patients which will be operated on with the results of the patients which will not; furthermore, we will compare preoperative and postoperative results in operated patients. RESULTS: 19 patients have been enrolled in the study, and data have been collected for 12 of them. Seven patients belong to operated population. CONCLUSIONS: even if enrolment of the patients is satisfactory, disposable data are not enough to perform statistical analysis and to put forward any conclusion.
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Composite Equilibrium Score
Timeframe: Operated patients: from first neurosurgical evaluation to 6 months after surgery (totally: 8-12 months). Non operated patients: about 4 months for complete evaluation.