Outcomes of resective surgery in pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy: A single-center study from the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy surgery is widely accepted as an effective therapeutic option for carefully selected patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). There is limited data on the outcome of epilepsy surgery, especially in pediatric patients from the Eastern Mediterranean region. Hence, we performed a retrospective study examining the outcomes of resective surgery in 53 pediatric patients with focal DRE. METHODS: Patients with focal DRE who had undergone epilepsy surgery were included in the present study. All patients underwent a comprehensive presurgical evaluation. Postoperative seizure outcomes were classified using the Engel Epilepsy Surgery Outcome Scale. RESULTS: After surgery, 33 patients (62.2%) were Class I according to the Engel classification of surgical outcomes; eight patients (15.0%) were Class II, 11 (20.7%) were Class III, and one (1.8%) was Class IV. The relationships of presurgical, surgical, and postsurgical clinical variables to seizure outcomes were compared. Older age at seizure onset, older age at the time of surgery, the presence of focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures, seizure duration over 2 minutes, unsuccessful treatment with three or fewer antiseizure medications, lesions confined to one lobe (as demonstrated via magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), surgical site in the temporal lobe, and histopathology including developmental tumors were significantly linked to an Engel Class I outcome. A univariate analysis of excellent surgical outcomes showed that lateralized semiology, localized interictal and ictal electroencephalogram (EEG) discharges, lateralized single-photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography findings, and temporal lobe resections were significantly related to excellent seizure outcomes. SIGNIFICANCE: The results of our study are encouraging and similar to those found in other centers around the world. Epilepsy surgery remains an underutilized treatment for children with DRE and should be offered early.

The Effect of Ponte Osteotomies on the Sagittal Shape of Rods and Spine Derotation in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Single-Center, Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Adding a Ponte osteotomy (PO) to other surgical techniques for correcting adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) profoundly affects the entire sagittal shape of the rod. POs are an effective procedure for correcting thoracic hypokyphosis in patients with AIS. Methods: A retrospective review of 40 patients with AIS was conducted. The sample was divided into 2 groups: PO and non-PO. On a lateral radiograph, the rod end angle (A) was calculated using the intersections of the tangents with the rod end points. The maximal deflection (D) was obtained for each rod. In addition, the rod apex angle (B) was calculated using the intersection of the tangents at 2 points, each 1 cm to 1 side of the rod apex; the distance between the rods at the apex was then measured. Results: Concave rods tended to be straight or even lordotic at the apex in the non-PO group (-0.9° vs. +5.9° in the PO group; P = 0.000). The rod end angle and deflection were significantly lower in the non-PO group (15.2° and 7.1 mm vs. 26.3° and 17.8 mm in the PO group; P = 0.000 and P = 0.000). The convex rods were less kyphotic in the non-PO group; for the non-PO group, the end angle and deflection were 27.6° and 16 mm versus 33.4° and 23.8 mm in the PO group (P = 0.03 and P = 0.000). No significant difference between the groups was observed for the convex rod apex angle (P = 0.8). The rod apices were more superimposed in the PO group (2.9 mm vs. 9.3 mm in the non-PO group; P = 0.000). Conclusions: POs increase the overall sagittal kyphosis and improve the three-dimensional derotation of the apex in patients with AIS.

Pediatric awake epilepsy surgery: Intraoperative language mapping utilizing digital video gaming and electrocorticography.

Intraoperative functional language mapping is vital to minimize the risks associated with surgical removal of the seizure onset zone in selected patients with epilepsy. In children, this method has been reported extraoperatively by the placement of invasive electrodes to map the language area and monitor epileptic activity. It is difficult from a technical standpoint to perform an awake craniotomy and language mapping in young children under 10 years of age. Here we report a 9-year-old boy suffering from drug-resistant non-lesional epilepsy who underwent extraoperative and intraoperative electrical stimulation with successful identification of Broca's language area. Electrocorticography (ECOG) was applied intraoperatively in a continuous manner utilizing grid electrodes before the skin opening. We found that the use of visual digital video games facilitated extraoperative and intraoperative cortical mapping. Cortical language inhibition by electrical stimulation was elicited at an amplitude of 7 mA (100 µs single-phase duration and 50 Hz pulse width). Resection of the seizure onset zone was completed safely. The post-resection ECOG revealed the disappearance of epileptogenic electrographic discharges at the seizure onset contacts and at other involved contacts in the epileptogenic zone. After surgery, the child recovered well with no language deficits and remained seizure-free. The child remembered only the video game test that was performed intraoperatively. This report highlights safety strategies for awake language mapping in pediatrics and the importance of the perioperative use of a visual digital video game and continuous ECOG, in addition to the use of targeted language cortex stimulation to facilitate faster and safer intraoperative language mapping under awake conditions in this age group.