Age as a predictor of reoperations and complications in surgically managed pediatric Chiari malformation type I

In a national cohort of pediatric patients undergoing surgically managed CM-I, there was a significantly increased likelihood of reoperation and complications in patients ages 3 years and younger. Although CM-I decompression should not be postponed in the face of progressive neurological deficits, the authors' findings suggest that delaying surgery until after the age of 3 years, when medically feasible, may help mitigate adverse events.