Chiari Malformation and Tethered Cord Syndrome

Members of our team have special expertise in treatment of Chiari malformation and associated disorders.


Dr. Henderson is Director of the Greater Washington Metropolitan Chiari Syringomyelia Foundation. The Foundation sponsors lectures every three months regarding Chiari malformation and sees patients from all around the world with Chiari malformation, including those referred with a diagnosis of a concurrent connective tissue disorder. Dr. Henderson has published widely on treatment of Chiari malformations and related disorders.

Tethered cord syndrome occurs commonly in connective tissue disorders, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. It may occur following trauma, following surgery, as the result of transdural cord herniation, as the result of a tumor, or as the result of a congenital condition. Dr. Henderson has extensive experience with tethered cord syndromes of all types.


Specific procedures include:

  • Suboccipital craniectomy
  • Occipitocervical fusion stabilization
  • Treatment of syringomyelia
  • Tethered cord syndrome
  • Treatment of cervical, thoracic and lumbar tethered cord syndromes
  • Sectioning of filum for congenital tethered cord syndrome
  • Treatment of tethered cord syndrome in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
  • Untethering of posttraumatic or postsurgical tethering
  • Treatment of transdural cord herniation