1995 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Electrophysiologic studies on brainstem dysfunction in patients with myelomeningocele
| Project/Area Number |
05671168
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Cerebral neurosurgery
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| Research Institution | Kochi Medical School |
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Principal Investigator |
MORI Koreaki Kochi Medical School, Dept. of Medicine, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (60026937)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
SAKAMOTO Takashi Kochi Medical School, Dept.of Medicine, Research Associate, 医学部, 助手 (90243823)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1993 – 1995
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| Keywords | ABR / SEP / Blink Reflex / Brainstem Function / Chiari II Malformation / Myelomeningocele |
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| Research Abstract |
This study was performed in order to assess the natural history of Chiari II malformations in both morphologic and functional aspects. In 31 patients with myelomeningocele, each study of MRI,SEP,blink reflex, and ABR was performed. The studies were performed repeatedly at intervals ranging from 2 to 7 years.
Continuous anatomic changes between the Chiari II malformation and the skull base occurred during growth. The herniated hindbrain contents and crowding of the foramen magnum created a condition where the lower cranial nerves were at an increased risk of compression or traction injury. A kinked medulla was also at an increased risk of strangling force. Compression and traction forces due to the anatomic progression of this anomaly resulted in strangulation of the cervical spinal cord and kinked medulla and/or stretching of the cervical nerve roots and lower cranial nerves. However, primary intrinsic functional disorders in the brainstem gradually improved during growth. The natural history of Chiari II malformations involves these functionally opposing dynamic phenomena in the hindbrain and its connections, despite the anatomic progression.
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