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

Özet

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 andneurosurgery 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 neckpain (94.4%), headache (88.9%), paresthesia (86.1%), fatigue (83.3%), and vertigo (80.6%). The mean tonsillar herniation below the foramenmagnum was 8.7±3.8 (mm). Of the patients, 15 (42.85%) had syringomyelia. The degree of tonsillar ectopia was statistically significantlylower in patients with syringomyelia (p 10 mm, the FI valueswere 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 ofbalance in patients with CM using TIBS static posturography is a simple and effective technique.