The effect of abnormal CSF flow and pressure on the Brain and the Spinal Cord

October 26, 2010

Time: October 26, 2010
Lecturer: Karen-Helene Støverud
Center for Biomedical Computing, Oslo
Venue: Pfaffenwaldring 61, Raum U1.003 (MML), Universität Stuttgart
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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in the subarachnoid space (SAS) varies throughout the cardiac cycle in relation with changing pressure gradients.In patients with a Chiari malformation, characterized by the displacement of the lower part of the cerebellum into the spinal column, abnormal CSF flow have been observed using MRI.However, flow measurements from MR have low spatial and temporal resolution. Therefore, 3D models of the SAS with 2D velocities from MRI as boundary conditions have been created to compute flow and pressure fields in the SAS.The calculated pressure field can then be employed as boundary conditions to the surface of the spinal cord, which is treated as poro-elastic medium.This enables investigation of the stress and resulting deformation inside the spinal cord. By doing this, we may explain whether there is a direct coupling between the CSF flow and formation of spinal cord cysts in Chiari patients.Moreover, the same numerical model may be used to explain why the ventricles enlarge in patients with hydrocephalus.
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