[Arnold-Chiari malformation. Contribution of cerebral echography in the pretherapeutic evaluation].

From August 1988 to August 1989, we performed pre-operative sonographic examinations on eleven children who had Arnold-Chiari malformation (ACM). All children presented with myelomeningocele. ACM was the leading cause of hydrocephalus in infants and newborns. For eight children, hydrocephaly was particular by the discrepancy between the dilated atrium and the relatively small temporal horns. Two children have associated extra-neurologic malformations. Five patients were operated upon, with poor results in four. In our experience, ultrasonography was found very useful in patients presenting with myelomeningocele.