1
|
Seaman SC, Streese CD, Manzel K, Kamm J, Menezes AH, Tranel D, Dlouhy BJ. Cognitive and Psychological Functioning in Chiari Malformation Type I Before and After Surgical Decompression - A Prospective Cohort Study. Neurosurgery 2021; 89:1087-1096. [PMID: 34662899 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyab353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chiari Malformation Type I (CM-I) is defined as cerebellar tonsil displacement more than 5 mm below the foramen magnum. This displacement can alter cerebrospinal fluid flow at the cervicomedullary junction resulting in Valsalva-induced headaches and syringomyelia and compress the brainstem resulting in bulbar symptoms. However, little is known about cognitive and psychological changes in CM-I. OBJECTIVE To prospectively assess cognitive and psychological performance in CM-I and determine whether changes occur after surgical decompression. METHODS Blinded evaluators assessed symptomatic CM-I patients ages ≥18 with a battery of neuropsychological and psychological tests. Testing was conducted preoperatively and 6 to 18 mo postoperatively. Data were converted to Z-scores based on normative data, and t-tests were used to analyze pre-post changes. RESULTS A total of 26 patients were included, with 19 completing both pre- and post-op cognitive assessments. All patients had resolution of Valsalva-induced headaches and there was improvement in swallowing dysfunction (P < .0001), ataxia (P = .008), and sleep apnea (P = .021). Baseline performances in visual perception and construction (z = -1.11, P = .001) and visuospatial memory (z = -0.93, P = .002) were below average. Pre-post comparisons showed that CM-I patients had stable cognitive and psychological functioning after surgery, without significant changes from preoperative levels. CONCLUSION CM-I patients had below average performance in visuospatial and visuoconstructional abilities preoperatively. Prospective longitudinal data following surgery demonstrated improved neurologic status without any decline in cognition or psychological functioning. Routine pre- and postoperative formal neuropsychological assessment in CM-I patients help quantify cognitive and behavioral changes associated with surgical decompression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott C Seaman
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Carolina Deifelt Streese
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Kenneth Manzel
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Janina Kamm
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Arnold H Menezes
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Daniel Tranel
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.,Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Brian J Dlouhy
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.,Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.,Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| |
Collapse
|