Chiari CARE

The Chiari CARE (Chiari and Related Etiologies) program at the Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center offers evaluation and treatment for individuals with Chiari malformation and other complex congenital malformations of the central nervous system, including:

• tethered spinal cord
• syringomyelia
• basilar invagination
• pseudotumor cerebri
• other disorders of cerebral spinal fluid flow and disorders of the cranio-cervical junction

We offer comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment at a world-class medical center with the ability to centralize care for our patients.

At the Chiari CARE program, patients receive a comprehensive neurologic evaluation and treatment plan across multiple disciplines, including surgical and non-surgical therapies that focus on overall health and well-being.  Our services include state-of-the-art imaging facilities with specific protocols for patients with Chiari malformation and related conditions. Surgery is not necessary for everyone we evaluate, but for those patients who do require surgery, we have a team of world-class surgeons who are experts in treating these conditions.   

The goal of Chiari CARE revolves around each patient’s individual medical and surgical goals.  There are many specialists involved with the complex care that is often required for those who live with and experience symptoms related to Chiari malformation. Evaluation and treatment at Weill Cornell Chiari CARE may also involve neurology, radiology, pain management, ophthalmology, neuro-ophthalmology, ENT, sleep medicine, nutrition, neuropsychology, genetics, or immunology. 

We pride ourselves in taking a dynamic, centralized approach to provide you with our neurosurgical expertise, but more importantly we coordinate care with other qualified physicians.  We recognize that there is a lot that is not definitively known about Chiari and many of its associated disorders. Therefore, we are part of national Chiari clinical trials and have a growing list of internal clinical studies through which we continue to learn about and improve our care for our patients.

The team at the Chiari CARE program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center is eager to work with our patients to help manage and collaborate medical care that is best for their needs.  We bring together a team with knowledge, skill, determination, and patience to provide each patient with the best quality care possible. 

While we prefer evaluating each case during a thorough in-person visit to our offices in New York, we also provide online medical reviews and either written or phone consultations. We look forward to collaborating with you on your health.

For more information about the Chiari CARE Program, please contact Dr. Greenfield at 212-746-2363.