Question

A person has such severe epilepsy that his limbs are paralyzed, and doctors recommend a radical hemispherectomy. Identify the expected results of this procedure.

Answer 1

Predictor of success of this extreme procedure is the age of the patient. Hemispherectomy is almost exclusively performed in children because their brains generally display more neuroplasticity (ability of the brain to change) . Hemispherectomy is a successful procedure and brings the recovery of function in a child. Adult patients do not have to expect more problems with new deficits, appear to cope quite well, and mostly profit from this surgery.