Natural history of Chiari I malformation-syringomyelia: longitudinal cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The natural history of clinically stable patients with Chiari I malformation (CM-I)-syringomyelia is uncertain. To understand their outcomes, we examined conservatively managed CM-I-syringomyelia patients' long-term clinical and radiological courses.

Methods

We enrolled 156 mild CM-I-syringomyelia cases (Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score ≥13) managed non-surgically between 1994 and 2014 and followed them periodically until December 2024 for significant progressive myelopathy that we termed 'obvious deterioration'. Obvious deterioration was defined as a ≥2-point decline in JOA score to less than 13. Spontaneous syrinx resolution was radiologically defined as >50% reduction in syrinx length or maximal axial diameter on T1-weighted MRI.

Results

The

SUBMITTER: Yuan C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12703315 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature