Posturographic examination of body balance in patients with Chiari type I malformation and correlation with the presence of syringomyelia and degree of cerebellar ectopia.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate balance using the Tetrax Interactive Balance System (TIBS) in patients with Chiari type I malformation (CM-I) and to assess their fall risk with other clinical parameters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted at physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinics and neurosurgery department of a university hospital between December 2013 and December 2014. The study included a total of 36 patients (31 females, 5 males; mean age 40.6±10.0 years; range, 18 to 60 years) with CM-I. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and posturographic examinations were performed using the TIBS.

RESULTS

The mean Fall Risk Index (FI) value was 42.4±29.8 and the mean BBS score was 55.5±1.5. The most common complaints were neck pain (94.4%), headache (88.9%), paresthesia (86.1%), fatigue (83.3%), and vertigo (80.6%). The mean tonsillar herniation below the foramen magnum was 8.7±3.8 (mm). Of the patients, 15 (42.85%) had syringomyelia. The degree of tonsillar ectopia was statistically significantly lower in patients with syringomyelia (p<0.05). The BBS scores were near identical among the patients with or without syringomyelia, although the FI values were lower in the patients with syringomyelia. Comparing cerebellar ectopia ≤9 mm versus >10 mm, the FI values were slightly higher in the patients with ectopia >10 mm, although there was no statistically significant difference in the FI or BBS values.

CONCLUSION

Our study results suggest that CM-I can decrease the body balance stability and, thus, increase the fall risk. Evaluation of balance in patients with CM using TIBS static posturography is a simple and effective technique.