Before considering surgical treatment options, it is important to understand Chiari malformation and its impact on the body. The condition occurs when the cerebellar tonsils, located at the base of the brain, protrude into the spinal canal.
To understand this condition, it is also important to understand the anatomy of the lumbar spine.
The lower back, known as the lumbar spine, is composed of five vertebrae. These vertebrae are in the lower section of the spine, between the ribs and the pelvis.
Lumbar laminectomy is a common surgical procedure performed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves in the lower back. This type of spine surgery is used to treat a condition known as lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal cord).
Minimally invasive lumbar fusion is a range of surgical techniques and technology. This allows doctors to perform spinal fusion surgery with smaller incisions resulting in much faster recovery times.
There are three hallmark symptoms associated with this disease, with headaches being the most common. While there may not be a specific headache pattern, patients often describe pain behind the eyes or in the back of the head, that worsens when lying flat or first waking up. Migraine type headaches can also be present, and many patients may in fact be treated for migraine headaches
