Otologic manifestations of Chiari I malformation

To assess the prevalence of otologic symptoms in patients undergoing surgical decompression for symptomatic Chiari I malformation. Cross-sectional, prospective, nonrandomized. Urban tertiary referral center. Patients with Chiari I malformation before surgical intervention. None. Results of completed questionnaire. Sixteen consecutive patients with Chiari I malformation completed the self-administered questionnaire. Eighty-one percent of patients reported episodic aural fullness, 81% reported tinnitus, 69% reported vertigo, and 56% reported fluctuating hearing loss. Headaches were reported as frequently as aural fullness and tinnitus. Most patients with Chiari I malformation have symptoms that mimic primary otologic pathologic changes. The existence of common pathophysiologic mechanisms is proposed.