Unexpected Brain Death in a 20-year-old Man with Chiari Type I Malformation after Trauma: Case Report and Review of Literature

The Chiari I malformation is a congenital anomaly of unknown origin consisting of caudal displacement of the cerebellar tonsils protruding through the foramen magnum, whereas the brainstem and fourth ventricle remain in the cranial vault. We present a case of a sudden brain death of a 20-year-old adult man with trauma who subsequently was found to have a previously undiagnosed Chiari I malformation.