The 27-year-old woman had to have major brain surgery to correct a rare condition called Chiari Malformation, which means that part of her brain is pushing down into her spinal canal, causing numbness ...

These include chiari malformation type 1 —whereby part of ... of her symptoms — a procedure called craniocervical fusion surgery. The major operation involves fusing the bones at the junction ...

Dr Elbary added: 'Chiari malformation on its own is not life threatening and if the symptoms aren't that bad, generally they can be managed with medication. 'However, in some cases surgery is needed.