Thursday, November 14, 2013

Dandy Walker Malformation - A Brief Overview

By Jack Morgan


Dandy walker malformation refers to a congenital malformation of the brain which involves the cerebellum which is an area at the back of the brain which controls movement. It is a genetic sporadic disorder that occurs once in every 30,000 live births. It is hard to diagnose it during the prenatal and the prognosis of the outcome is also difficult to determine.

The key features of this malformation are characterized by the fourth ventricle enlarging in size. The fourth ventricle is responsible for free flow of liquid between the brain's upper and lower parts and the spinal cord. There could be a complete or partial absence of the brain area covering the area between the two cerebellar hemispheres. There could be some cyst formation near the skull lower parts.

The other features of Dandy Walker Malformation are the absence of the area the brain area which should be between the cerebellar hemispheres. There is formation of cyst near the lowest part of the skull. There is also an enlargement of the small channel that allows fluid to flow freely between the lower and upper of the spinal cord and the brain.

It is frequently associated with disorders that affect the various areas associated with the central nervous system. Absence of the nerve fibers that connect the corpus callosum would also cause this disorder. In addition, the malformations of the face, limbs, heart, toes and fingers may also cause this disorder.

Unlike any other conditions, dandy walker malformation affects children in a unique way. Some children still manage to have normal cognition even with the syndrome. Sadly for others, they never achieve full intellectual development despite early detection of the condition and draining off excess fluid. How long one survives will depend on the severity of their condition. However, when the defects are multiple in a person, they will have a short life span.

If there is any need for the treatment of Dandy Walker Malformation then it must involve the treatment of the associated problems. Excess fluid that is found within the brain is drained can be drained off via a process surgical process called Shunt. This surgical procedure helps in controlling the swelling and reduction of intracranial pressure in the brain.

There are various researches that are being conducted by different researchers on the complexities of the normal development of the human brain. The extensive knowledge being discovered from these researches are important in a number of ways. They are aimed at providing a solid foundation in the discovery of the various abnormal developments of the human brain.

This information would be more useful in the discovery of new methods for treating and preventing the various brain developmental disorders of which the dandy walker malformation is part of. This would be of great help to children who may be born with this condition. It would also enable the progressive world of medicine capable of dealing with this type of brain development disorder.




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