title: Ethical implications of an incidentally discovered asymptomatic Chiari malformation in a competitive athlete.
abstract: The clinical and ethical implications of an asymptomatic 17-year-old competitive football player incidentally found to have a type 1 Chiari malformation without a syrinx on brain imaging are discussed. Considering that patients with Chiari malformations can sustain irreversible neurologic injury or death after a mild head injury, and given the lack of data describing the risk of catastrophic injury after head trauma, the ethics of clearing this athlete to return to play are reviewed.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kirschen
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Illes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000150:complications*; D056352:Athletes; D005538:Football / Q000941:ethics* / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D009462:Neurology / Q000941:ethics*