Relation of Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Impedance and Cerebellar Herniation in Type I Chiari Malformation

This study investigates the use of longitudinal impedance (LI) as a means to quantify the severity of Type I Chiari Malformation (CMI). LI was analyzed in image-based models of the cervical spinal subarachnoid space of 22 CMI patients and 10 healthy volunteers. LI was then compared with the cerebellar tonsil herniation (CTH) measured by two neurosurgeons. Results showed that both LI and CTH differentiated CMI patients from healthy volunteers, but lacked the specificity to differentiate symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.