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| Basilar Invagination (BI) |
Basilar Invagination (BI)
Definition:
Basilar invagination occurs when the top of the second vertebrae moves upward. It can cause the opening in the skull where the
spinal cord passes through to the brain (the foramen magnum) to close. It also may press on the lower brainstem. The brainstem
is a stalk-like part of the brain that connects the main portion of the brain to the spinal cord.
Symptoms:
Periods of confusion or conscious awareness that doesn't seem normal
Difficulty swallowing or saying words due to loss of muscle control after damage to the nervous system (dysarthria)
Dizziness
Loss of sensation
Pain in the back of the head
Loss of the ability to know how joints are positioned
Tingling or numbness in the fourth and fifth fingers
Tingling or numbness in the middle part of the forearm
Tingling when the neck bends forward or backward
Weakness or stiff,awkward movements of the of the arms and legs
Treatment:
If there aren't neurological symptoms (such as difficulties moving, loss of sensation, confusion, etc.) and there is no evidence of
pressure on the spinal cord, a conservative approach may be taken such as:
Drugs, such as aspirin, without steroids to relieve inflammation (tenderness and swelling), and Neck traction, in which the neck is
pulled along its length, thus relieving pressure on the spinal cord
Using a neck collar
If there is pressure on the spinal cord, surgery is recommended.
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