We’ve been very busy this year putting on a lot of research projects, programs and meetings. Our 2023 Think Tank and Research Colloquium involved the sharing of exciting new research

2023 Chiari Research Award Winner. Congratulations to 2023 BJCSF Award Winner Belinda Shao, MD, MPH!

Dr. Shao’s work entitled “Effect on Affect: Postsurgical Change in Cerebellar Neuropsychiatric Rating Scale Scores in Adults and Children with Chiari Malformation Type I” was selected as this year’s winning abstract by an executive body of pediatric neurosurgeons. Winning abstracts are selected for their excellence in the study of Chiari, syringomyelia and related disorders at the annual meeting of the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Pediatric Neurosurgery.

We look forward to continuing this award at next year’s meeting in 2024! The goal of this annual award is to promote interest in the study of Chiari and syringomyelia in younger neurosurgeons and researchers-in-training. Involving new researchers leads to a higher likelihood of future breakthroughs.

Consensus Efforts: Craniocervical Instability. Last week, we hosted a second meeting to come to consensus on certain clinical characteristics and diagnostic criteria of craniocervical instability in children. There were 20 surgeons in attendance, all with varying viewpoints.

We were thrilled that consensus was found in a few more areas that were particularly contentious, such as the use of cervical collars in diagnosis and what symptoms are likely to indicate the need for surgery.

We’re even more excited to announce that a parallel effort is being undertaken to replicate this work in adult patients in preparation for a large-scale prospective study. A prospective study in adults will be able to answer serious questions about the usefulness and long-term success of fusion surgeries in patients.

Transition of Care. Believe it, or not: children with these disorders tend to become adults with these disorders. But there is no standard manner by which those children are transferred to adult doctors for future management and potential treatment.

We are honored to be part of an effort with the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Pediatric Neurosurgery to better understand how some institutions are able to seamlessly transfer patients to adult care and to standardize it so those methods can be used at any institution or clinic all around the country. More to come on this in 2024.

Chiari Surgical Success Scale. All the while, the CSSS study is still ongoing. Our partners at CSSS sites are actively enrolling patients and are the reason we have been able to enroll an incredible 125 patients, so far.

Thanks to our teams at each site and their incredible patients who are making a difference for so many in the future. Looking forward to a successful 2024!