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Path Breaking Spinal Surgery
This is the case of a little girl from the Middle East nation Sudan. She was quite normal from the day she started learning how to walk until age 4 – 5 years. Gradually she started experiencing spastic movement of the limbs with extreme pain. The local doctors after diagnosing the condition suggested surgery, the risks and complications involved in treating the condition. The worried parents were
A Path-breaking Spinal Surgery performed at Continental Hospitals to treat a complicated case of Chiari Malformation in an 11-year-old child from Middle East
This is the case of a little girl from the Middle East nation Sudan. She was quite normal from the day she started learning how to walk until age 4 – 5 years. Gradually she started experiencing spastic movement of the limbs with extreme pain. The local doctors after diagnosing the condition suggested surgery, the risks and complications involved in treating the condition. The worried parents were not ready to go ahead with the surgery.
Owing to the dearth of experienced neurosurgeons in her nation and the lack of expertise in treating such complicated cases, the doctors suggested them to go to India. Her parents then approached Continental Hospitals and met Dr Rajshekar Reddy – who diagnosed it as a complicated case of Chiari Malformation & suggested surgery.
Owing to her complicated health condition, her mother was upset and worried about the surgery and its outcomes. However, in spite of the risk involved, Dr Rajshekar Reddy persuaded the parents and performed the complex surgery, which went on for 2 hrs, and corrected the defect impeccably.
The result - the child was able to walk on the very next day of surgery and got discharged on third day. This was quite an amazing outcome to everyone’s surprise.
What is Arnold Chiari Malformation?
Arnold Chiari Malformation is a birth defect (a rare birth defect) wherein structural defects in the hind brain and spine develop. Earlier, the identification of this disease was quite difficult owing to lack of proper diagnostic tools. Now with the advent of newer methods of diagnostic imaging like CT scans and MRI, the diagnoses of this condition can be done at an early stage itself. Still many children in African and Middle East countries are suffering from this condition due to lack of advanced diagnostic facilities over there.
How is the malformation diagnosed?
When a doctor suspects the condition, he/she will perform a physical test to check the functions normally controlled by the cerebellum and spinal cord including touch, sensation, reflexes, balance and motor skills. If doctor suspects any malformations, they will order MRI scan, which is most often used test to diagnose Chiari Malformations.
What are the symptoms of Chiari Malformation?
The symptoms include frequent headaches, vomiting, problems with eyesight, spinal problems – difficulty in walking, frequent falls. The symptoms usually develop steadily over a period of time and become prominent when the child reaches 5 to 7 years’ age. The full blown disease results once the spinal curvature malformation develops. In spinal curvature – scoliosis is a condition in which spine bends to the left or right and kyphosis is a condition in which the spine bends to the forward position.
What is the treatment?
If chiari malformations cause symptoms that interfere with day-to-day activities, then treatment is necessary and surgery is the only treatment to correct the functional defects and to stop the progression of the disease, which may damage the central nervous system. The purpose of the surgery is to relieve pressure on the brain and spinal cord and to improve normal fluid circulation through the affected area.
Dr. Rajasekhar Reddy K
