Logo image
Back
Associations of Chiari-1 malformation and syringomyelia with osseous cervical spinal canal diameter in the pediatric spine
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Associations of Chiari-1 malformation and syringomyelia with osseous cervical spinal canal diameter in the pediatric spine

Alexander T Yahanda, Devin W Kolmetzky, Vivek P Gupta, Jennifer M Strahle, Sean D McEvoy, Gabe Haller, Thanda Meehan, Brian A Kelly, Scott J Luhmann, Joshua S Shimony, …
Child's nervous system, Vol.42(1), 137
03/27/2026
DOI: 10.1007/s00381-026-07233-9
PMCID: PMC13021709
PMID: 41888267
url
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-026-07233-9View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

To examine the associations between cerebellar tonsillar ectopia and syrinx size on bony spinal canal diameter in pediatric patients to explore the impact of CM with or without SM on the developing spine. Cohorts of patients with CM + SM, CM-only, and neither condition were compared. Anteroposterior (AP) syrinx diameter was measured at C2 (SX ) and C7 (SX ) for patients with syringomyelia. Tonsillar ectopia was measured for all patients in the CM + SM and CM-only cohorts. AP diameter of the bony spinal canal at C2 (SC ) and C7 (SC ) was measured for all patients. Patients were stratified by age and sex in secondary analyses. 357 patients had CM + SM and 217 patients had CM-only. Both cohorts had larger SC (p < 0.0001) and SC (p < 0.0001) compared to controls. CM + SM had larger SC (p < 0.0001) but not SC (p = 0.10) compared to CM-only. Increased SX was associated with increased SC (p < 0.0001); both SX and SX were significantly associated with increases in SC (p < 0.0001). Syringes ≥ 3 mm were associated with larger SC and SC compared to syringes < 3 mm (p ≤ 0.002). SC and SC for syringes < 3 mm were not significantly different from CM-only. Children with CM + SM in early childhood/adolescence experienced the greatest percentage spinal canal dilation. Females experienced greater spinal canal dilation than similarly-aged males. Patients with CM ± SM experience significant increases in bony cervical spinal canal diameter during development. Syringes ≥ 3 mm with CM are associated with further canal dilation of the spinal canal at syrinx level. The degree of spinal canal dilation appears to be age- and sex-dependent.
 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Adolescent Arnold-Chiari Malformation - complications Arnold-Chiari Malformation - diagnostic imaging Arnold-Chiari Malformation - pathology Cervical Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging Child Child, Preschool Cohort Studies Female Humans Infant Male Retrospective Studies Spinal Canal - diagnostic imaging Spinal Canal - pathology Syringomyelia - complications Syringomyelia - diagnostic imaging Syringomyelia - pathology

Details

Metrics

3 Record Views
Logo image