Brain Surgery Can Help Reduce Seizures in Polymicrogyria
Source: Epilepsia open
Summary
This study focused on the effects of brain surgery for people with epilepsy caused by a condition called polymicrogyria (PMG). PMG is a rare brain development issue that leads to an unusual structure in the brain. Researchers reviewed 47 studies involving 225 patients who had surgery to treat their epilepsy, looking at how well the surgeries worked and any complications that arose.
The key findings showed that many patients experienced positive outcomes after surgery. About 65% of the patients became seizure-free or had significantly fewer seizures, especially if they had the surgery earlier in their lives. However, not many patients were assessed for changes in their mental abilities after surgery, although some improvements were noted in younger patients.
Understanding these results is important because they suggest that surgery can be a helpful option for some individuals with PMG and epilepsy that doesn't respond to medication. However, the study also points out that more research is needed to fully understand how surgery affects mental functions and overall quality of life. The limited information on cognitive outcomes means that doctors need better tools to evaluate and support patients before and after surgery.
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