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My daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis a few years ago and now the doctor is talking about surgery. He did a test and found she has an abnormality called Chiari Malformation. What is that and how will this affect her?

A Chiari malformation is an abnormality in the brain, in the area of the cerebellum. This is the part of the brain that controls balance. There can be a build up of fluid as the pressure blocks the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. This can cause problems with balance, headaches, vision problems, and other neurological problems.

If your daughter's doctor had to look for the abnormality, chances are it is what is called Chiari 1 malformation; there are three types, with 1 being the mildest and 3 the most severe.

Reference: 

Yong Qiu, MD, et al. Radiological Presentations in Relation to Curve Severity in Scoliosis Associated with Syringomyelia. In Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics. January/February 2008. Vol. 28. No. 1. Pp. 128-133.

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