A CASE REPORT ON THE TREATMENT OF CONSTIPATION IN A PATIENT WITH SYRINGOMYELIA AND ARNOLD-CHIARI MALFORMATION

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation via osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) techniques in the management of chronic constipation in a patient diagnosed with Arnold-Chiari malformation and syringomyelia. Methods: A 34-year-old female patient with a history of syringomyelia and Arnold-Chiari malformation presented with chronic constipation. She was assessed using the Rome III criteria and the Constipation Severity Instrument (CSI). A single session of osteopathic vagal stimulation was administered. The patient was monitored weekly for one month and re-evaluated at the end of the intervention using the same scales. Results: The total CSI score decreased from 46 at baseline to 6 at the end of the first month. The patient reported defecating a maximum of five times per month prior to treatment, while achieving daily bowel movements after the intervention. A notable softening in stool consistency and reduction in straining were observed. Discussion: Vagus nerve stimulation through OMT appears to be an effective, non-invasive, and cost-efficient method in the treatment of constipation. This case highlights the therapeutic potential of OMT in managing constipation associated with syringomyelia and Arnold-Chiari malformation, encouraging further studies with larger sample sizes.