The sagging of the cerebellum in the posterior region of the brain towards the spinal canal is called cerebellum prolapse. This disease, also known as chari malformation, is congenital. In other words, it does not occur later, but its symptoms appear as age progresses.
Since the symptoms in Chari’s disease show themselves gradually, its diagnosis is mostly coincidental. Usually, a well-examined neck hernia can be diagnosed on MRI. The size of the sagging is also important in the emergence of symptoms. Some patients do not need to go to the doctor because they do not show any symptoms. The size of the sagging also determines the treatment process.
Symptoms of Cerebellum Prolapse
Symptoms of cerebellum prolapse vary according to the region where the prolapse is affected. Sometimes it can affect the spinal cord, sometimes the brain stem, and sometimes the cerebellum itself. If it affects the cerebellum itself, balance problems occur.
Dizziness, nausea and vomiting are among other complaints. If the spinal cord is affected, pain, numbness, and weakness may occur in the arms. Symptoms can be more serious when the brain stem is affected. Situations ranging from difficulty in swallowing to cessation of breathing during sleep may be encountered. We can list all the symptoms as follows:
Burning pains in the arms,
Pain in the neck,
Numbness and difficulty in the arms,
Inability to distinguish between hot and cold ,
Loss of balance,
Dizziness,
Nausea and vomiting,
Difficulty in swallowing,
respiratory arrest during sleep.
Cerebellum Prolapse Surgery
The treatment of cerebellum prolapse can only be done with surgery. There is no non-surgical treatment method. However, if the size of the sagging is small, there is no need for surgery, only follow-up is recommended. Generally, surgery is applied for sagging over 10 mm. Of course, the patient’s complaints, clinical examination findings and the presence of cystic enlargement are also taken into consideration. If the physician has decided to have surgery, this decision should be followed. Because the progression of the disease can cause the person to be confined to bed and even die. Therefore, cerebellum prolapse is a disease that should be taken seriously.
Microsurgical method is preferred in cerebellum prolapse surgery. In this way, there is no need for a large incision, and a safe and comfortable operation is performed with the introduction of the microscope. It is entered through a small incision at the junction of the head and neck, the bone there is enlarged with the TUR device and the area is relaxed. Thanks to the latest technology, it is an operation with a very low risk rate and an extremely high benefit rate.
