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Acute presentation of Chiari malformation type I in adulthood with arm swelling, a case report and literature review

Spinal Cord Series and Cases volume 9, Article number: 27 (2023) Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Introduction

Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) with cervicothoracic syringomyelia can progress slowly this condition which is very common in clinical practice, particularly in children.

Case presentation

Patients typically present with chronic complaints, including headache, dizziness, and numbness, although are few reports in the literature describing pediatric patients who developed acute neurological deficits caused by CM-I. Here, we report an unusual presentation of this condition; the patient presented with sudden onset arm swelling with no precipitating factors that could explain the diagnosis.

Discussion

This is an illustrated case report and literature review. The patient’s condition improved post-operatively; in terms of arm and hand swelling which resolved, but he still complained of persistent numbness on a follow-up visit.

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Fig. 1: MRI of brain pre-operation and post operation.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

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Acknowledgements

We disclose there is no source of acknowledgment in writing this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam (KFSHD), Dammam, Saudi Arabia

    Bassam Fallatah, Haitham Ben Ali & Muhammad Imran Bhatti

  2. Neuroscience Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam (KFSHD), Dammam, Saudi Arabia

    Shahid Bashir

Authors
  1. Bassam Fallatah
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  2. Haitham Ben Ali
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  3. Muhammad Imran Bhatti
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Contributions

BF, HBA, and MIB designed the study. BF, HBA collected the clinical data. BF, MIB, and SB analyzed and interpreted the data. BF, HBA, MIB, and SB drafted the manuscript. BF, HBA, and SB checked and approved the authenticity of the raw data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Haitham Ben Ali.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Fallatah, B., Ben Ali, H., Bhatti, M.I. et al. Acute presentation of Chiari malformation type I in adulthood with arm swelling, a case report and literature review. Spinal Cord Ser Cases 9, 27 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-023-00583-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-023-00583-5

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