A Chiari malformation, or Arnold-Chiari malformation, is a structural defect in the brain. Normally, the cerebellum rests in the space at the back of the skull. When the cerebellum protrudes into the foramen magnum (the opening to the spinal canal), this is called a Chiari malformation.

Most cases of Chiari malformation (CM) are thought to be caused by defective fetal development of the brain and spine. CM can also be acquired later in life because of injury, infection, poisoning, or anything that drains cerebrospinal fluid.

A Chiari malformation (CM) may cause headaches, dizziness, vision problems, insomnia, depression, or more serious conditions. For instance, CM may impede the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, causing it to build up in the brain; this is know as hydrocephalus, and it cause affect mental function as well as the shape of the skull. Many people, however, do not even know that they have a CM, as it is asymptomatic.

Auto accidents and other traumatic injuries can cause asymptomatic CM to become symptomatic. A major medical study by Dr. Thomas Milhorat, MD, found that people with asymptomatic or mild CM typically have an underdeveloped cranial cavity and a crowded hindbrain. Auto accidents and other injuries can easily exacerbate this delicate condition by pushing the cerebellum farther into the foramen magnum, causing a CM symptoms to appear.

The World Chiari Malformation Association has published several trauma testimonials in which people describe suffering from Chiari malformation after a car accident. Here are a few of the stories:

“I was at a stop sign on November 3, 1995 when I was hit head-on by another car. Since then I have had all sorts of problems. Before my accident I was very healthy, working out every day etc. Now I have Arnold Chiari Malformation. Unfortunately, I had to go through 6 neurosurgeons in order to find one that specialized in ACM. I have had six surgeries since my accident...four of which were for ACM and SM. I deal with chronic pain every day now since this accident.”

“I was diagnosed with chiari during the summer of 1986. I had few symptoms at that time, and a neurologist told me then that if the chiari ever became truly troublesome, then surgery would be an option . In December 1996 , I was a passenger in a car that was stopped to make a left turn. We were rear-ended by a car going around 50 mph , and the back of my head struck the seat/ head rest. Within several hours, my symptoms got worse and continued to worsen for several weeks. Headaches and dizzy spells became constant along with many other symptoms commonly associated with ACM. One afternoon I passed out several times in my yard while trying to get into my house. A friend drove me to a nearby hospital where I was admitted and observed for several days. After seeing several specialists and undergoing many tests, it was discovered that my tonsillar herniation (ACM), which was 5 - 8 mm before the accident, was now 8 - 12 mm. It was explained to me by a world renowned ACM expert that my tonsils had herniated further due to the head blow.”

“In 1994, I was a passenger in a car that ran a red light, hitting another car head on. I was checked out at the local ER and sent home, with mild head injury, whiplash etc. The next day I woke up sick to my stomach, my left arm was numb, and I began having severe headaches and neck pain. After 2 years of suffering with symptoms, the doctor finally sent me to a neurologist where is was determined I had partial complex seizures. I spent one week at the neurology unit of University of Penn. Medical center. The doctors there confirmed that my seizures were caused by the car accident. I continued to have other symptoms so an MRI was done, finding the ACM. I had my first decompression in March 1997. We were not aware that ACM can be started by a trauma, although our neurosurgeon did say it is very possible. Before my accident, I had went to the doctors only a few times over a seven year period. I was very healthy, never had anything wrong. After the accident, in a two year period, I had seen the doctor over 60 times.”

Suffering from a Chiari malformation after an auto accident can be a painful, frightening experience that will likely require many doctor visits and surgeries. To make matters worse, it can be difficult to prove in a court of law that Chiari malformation symptoms were caused by an auto accident.

If you suffer from a brain injury due to an auto accident or other personal injury, you need an experienced attorney who understands your condition as well as the law. Call MLN Law at 404-531-9700 to schedule your free consultation.

Labels: auto accident, car accidents, car wreck, traumatic brain injury

Back in 2003, researchers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) performed a study and estimated that cell phone use by drivers caused approximately 955 fatalities and 240,000 accidents in 2002. This is a staggering and unprecedented number, and interestingly enough, more than double the Department of Transportation’s current estimation of the number of auto accidents involving cell phones.

“We’re looking at a problem that could be as bad as drunk driving, and the government has covered it up,” Clarence Ditlow, director of the Center for Auto Safety, told the New York Times.

The problem is, these findings were never published in a report or released to the public until two consumer advocacy groups petitioned to view them through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Yesterday’s New York Times revealed that while the NHTSA had commissioned an in-depth study into the ways cell phone usage by drivers impacts wrecks and fatalities, no findings were ever published. Why? In part, reveals the Times, due to a mandate by the U.S. Congress.

According to the Times, then Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta had been poised to send a letter to states warning them of the danger posed by cell phones. Research also showed that, because the conversation and not the phone caused the distraction, hands-free cell phones did not lessen the risk. But the letter was never sent because Congress had handed down a mandate telling the agency to refrain from lobbying states on transportation issues. Dr. Jeffrey Runge, who was head of the highway safety agency at the time, was told that the agency could lose billions in funding if they angered Congress by pursuing the letter to individual states.

The Times piece reported that the unpublished research conformed to the findings of other studies that “motorists talking on a phone are four times as likely to crash as other drivers, and are as likely to cause an accident as someone with a .08 blood alcohol content.”

For everyday drivers like you and me, one of the most important aspects of this story is how it reveals that a federal agency decided, perhaps due to pressure from Congress, not to step in at a crucial juncture in the history of cars and cell phones. At the time, many states were considering, and some even passed, laws banning drivers from using cell phone handsets. But no state, perhaps partly due to incomplete research, has passed an outright cell phone ban for drivers. Perhaps if this information had been disseminated to the individual states, a stronger case could have been made for banning wireless communication devices while driving. Who know how many lives could have been saved?

If you are interested in learning more about this story, and if you or a love one drive on the roads, you should be, visit the New York Times website for some more fascinating information. This link will take you to the actual suppressed documents from the NHTSA study, and you can read the entire New York Times story here.

Please leave your opinions on this very serious issue in the comments. What do you think of drivers using cell phones? Did this story change your opinion?

Labels: auto accident, cell phone