Hemispherotomy for Pediatric Post-Traumatic Epilepsy

Objective: Hemispherotomy is an effective treatment for select forms of drug-resistant hemispheric epilepsy, including perinatal stroke, Rasmussen’s encephalitis, and Sturge–Weber syndrome. Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) has been reported to occur in ~10% of children following traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI has not been extensively evaluated as an indication for hemispherotomy, as its effects are rarely unilateral. Here, we report the results from five pediatric cases of hemispherotomy for drug-resistant hemispheric PTE. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all pediatric patients with drug-resistant PTE secondary to TBI who underwent hemispherotomy between 2018 and 2022 at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (n = 5). All patients initially underwent craniectomy and subsequent cranioplasty due to TBI; criteria for hemispherotomy were met in the following years, leading to a recommendation for hemispherotomy at the epilepsy surgery conference. Clinical characteristics, seizure and functional outcomes, and postoperative complications were reviewed. Seizure outcomes were classified according to the Engel criteria. Results: Five children (median age: 8.3 years, range: 5.0–10.3 years) with drug-resistant PTE underwent lateral trans-sylvian hemispherotomy. TBI etiology included non-accidental trauma (n = 3) and motor vehicle accidents (n = 2). All patients exhibited Engel Class Ia seizure outcomes (median follow-up: 15 months, range: 5–39 months), with a reduction in anti-seizure medications from a median of five preoperatively to one postoperatively. No patient experienced re-operation. Neuropsychological outcomes were patient-specific, with most exhibiting a mix of gains and challenges after surgery. Conclusion: We demonstrate the use of hemispherotomy to treat drug-resistant, hemispheric PTE in five children, with excellent reduction in seizure frequency and mixed or improved neuropsychological outcomes.