CHOP Chiari Clinic
Our Chiari Clinic provides coordinated, multidisciplinary care for children and teens with Chiari malformation.
We offer comprehensive visits with our entire multidisciplinary care team on the same day. We assess patients thoroughly through a physical exam and a review of imaging such as MRI and CT. Our specialists collaborate with each other and with you and your child to determine the best care plan. Treatment options we offer include nonoperative therapy, minimally invasive procedures, and surgery to relieve pressure on the brain. This holistic approach allows us to see the patient as a whole.
We see any child with Chiari symptoms or a Chiari diagnosis, including those not previously seen by a physician in the CHOP system and those in need of a second opinion.
How we serve you
At CHOP’s Chiari Clinic, families can expect a balanced opinion regarding treatment. Our goal is to use the least invasive approach possible to stop Chiari symptoms from interfering with a child’s quality of life. Your child’s care begins with a comprehensive, personalized assessment of their medical history and symptoms. A thorough evaluation is important to help us find the right care for each child.
Conditions we treat
If a child has Chiari malformation but does not have a syrinx (a fluid-filled cyst in the spinal cord) or symptoms, they may not need any treatment. Our team will perform follow-up brain scans regularly to monitor their health. If Chiari is causing symptoms like neck pain or headache, our first action is conservative therapy. This includes nonsurgical options such as medication, physical therapy and behavior modification.
Chiari surgery is usually reserved for kids who have severe pain or other symptoms like a syrinx, scoliosis, or bowel and bladder dysfunction. Surgery can relieve pressure on the brain or spinal cord and may alter the progression of scoliosis.
Why choose us for Chiari malformation
Our Chiari Clinic provides coordinated, multidisciplinary care for children and teens with Chiari malformation. We collaborate with each other and with your family to get a complete picture of your child’s needs and determine the best treatment option.
Meet your team
Our clinic provides multidisciplinary care from a core team of neurosurgeons and neurologists, including Co-Director and Chiari specialist, Alexander Tucker, MD. Additional supporting care is provided by speech and language therapists, physical therapy, neuro-ophthalmologists and sleep specialists.
Our locations
The Chiari Clinic at CHOP serves patients at three of our locations.
Our research
We have teams on the clinical side and in basic research labs studying different areas of Chiari care, including the natural history of the disease, basic science research, surgical technique and outcomes.
Our resources
We know caring for a child with Chiari malformation can be stressful. To help you find support and answers to your questions, we’ve created this list of educational health resources.
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