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ABSTRACT
Purpose: Transverse myelitis (TM) is an acute inflammatory spinal cord injury. Asymptomatic Chiari I malformation (CMI) management is highly controversial, particularly when associated with a spinal syrinx. Here, we assess the occurrence of CMI in the pediatric TM population and management outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study based on 61 consecutively identified pediatric TM cases over an –8-year period. We reviewed demographic characteristics, radiographic findings, presenting symptoms, and long-term outcomes. Results: Eight CMI cases were identified within the TM cohort; all presented with TM by 16 months of age and affecting the cervical spinal cord. In three cases, CMI developed 15 months to 6 years after the onset of TM. One in 10 children with TM had CMI. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate a high prevalence of CMI in patients with TM. Large prospective clinical studies are needed to further investigate the natural history and recovery strategies of CMI involved with neuroinflammatory disorders.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper