This chart is an illustration of the recent success rates that Dr. Ellenbogen, through the UW at Harborview and Children’s, has achieved. As you can see, most if not all patients will improve or see a complete resolution of their symptoms if the procedure is carried out properly. Many other leading Chiari experts also report similar success rates.

If a patient continues to decline in health following surgery, many things can be responsible for this. For instance, scar tissue may form or may have never been removed in the original surgery. The determination of a successful surgery will be if normal cerebrospinal fluid flow (CSF) is achieved. This can be seen with a CINE-MRI, which is an MRI that comes back in video form and shows the CSF flow around the brain. If you or someone you know falls into this category, they should be seen by an expert who can order and interpret the correct tests. For information on contacting other experts who are known for their abilities in treating Chiari patients, please see our "Links" section.

Patients must find a neurosurgeon who is experienced in treating this condition.