Our Experience

Kula and Dr. Bolognese have worked together in three Chiari Centers since 1995, with more than 50 years of collective experience in the Chiari field.
They have evaluated and treated several thousand Chiari patients, from all 50 States,and more than 70 foreign Nations.
More than 1,500 Chiari surgeries performed, with less than 1% incidence of CSF leak since 2003 (0% incidence of CSF leak since 2011, with the new MIST technique)
More than 1,000 Craniocervical Fusionsperformed, with less than 1% incidence of Vertebral Artery complications
More than 1,000 Tethered Cord surgeriesperformed, with less than 1% incidence of CSF leak

Founders of Chiari Center, Chiari Institute, Chiari Neurosurgical Center, and Chiari EDS Center
Members of the Medical Advisory Boards of ASAP and CSF
Member of the Board of Directors of ASAP
Organizers of the 2017 ASAP National Conference
Educational Videos for the CMI community since 2003
Speakers at ASAP Conferences since 2001
Speakers at CSF Symposia since its inception
Invited speakers in Scientific Meetings worldwide

NEWS / EVENTS

2020 – IRB approved Prospective study about Craniocervical Fusions
2019 – IRB approved Retrospective study about Posterior Fossa Decompressions, Craniocervical Fusions, and Section Filum Terminale
2016 – IRB approved STING Protocol
2016 – Introduced the technique of Focal Restrictive Duroplasty for the treatment of Intracranial Hypotension
2011 – Started using Condylar screws for Craniocervical Fusions (largest case series in the world to date with this technique)
2010 – Developed the MIST technique for CMI surgery, along with the Department of Syringomyelia in Beijing
2006 – Identified Occult Tethered Cord as a comorbidity in CMI
2005 – Detected the association of Styloid Hypertrophy and CMI
2005 – Started the Systematic use of Morphometrics in CMI care
2003 – Identified Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome as a comorbidity in CMI
2002 – Developed the concept of Tailored Surgical Technique in Chiari Surgery
1999 – Co-authored the seminal article “Chiari I Malformation Redefined”
1998 – Introduced the Intraoperative Color Doppler Ultrasound, to measure CSF flow
1998 – Introduced Cranioplasty in Chiari surgery
1997 – Development of Extradural Posterior Fossa Decompression technique

Chiari EDS Center