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Brain surgery for one with cerebral palsy
Sun, 03/26/2006 - 20:23Comments
Re: Brain surgery for one with cerebral palsy
Submitted by Marcia M on Wed, 2008-05-21 - 18:54
My 12 year old son has left hemoplegia CP and recently had surgery for his seizures. His right brain was completely removed, the surgery is called an anatomical hemispherectomy, since his right hemisphere was 2/3 damaged. He does have a little scarring on his left brain, so the outcome for seizure freedom was reduced, they said about 75% chance of seizure freedom or at least less severe seizures.
It has been about a month since his surgery. Before surgery he was having 10 drop seizures everyday, after surgery the daytime seizures ended, but then he began having breif nighttime seizures, about 20 a night, although last night he didn't have any :) As for any function loss, he hasn't really had any loss since he has grown up dealing with and compensating for his CP, so removing his right brain was not an issue. He still can walk, talk and uses his left hand as a "helper hand". He gets PT, OT and Speech - but I think he is already almost functioning at the same level as before surgery. He may even be doing a little better already, the doctors did say his IQ could actually go up from this surgery, if the seizures stay away.
Surgery for us was a life saver, it was our last resort and I would choose to do again. Good luck to you and your son.
My 12 year old son has left hemoplegia CP and recently had surgery for his seizures. His right brain was completely removed, the surgery is called an anatomical hemispherectomy, since his right hemisphere was 2/3 damaged. He does have a little scarring on his left brain, so the outcome for seizure freedom was reduced, they said about 75% chance of seizure freedom or at least less severe seizures.
It has been about a month since his surgery. Before surgery he was having 10 drop seizures everyday, after surgery the daytime seizures ended, but then he began having breif nighttime seizures, about 20 a night, although last night he didn't have any :) As for any function loss, he hasn't really had any loss since he has grown up dealing with and compensating for his CP, so removing his right brain was not an issue. He still can walk, talk and uses his left hand as a "helper hand". He gets PT, OT and Speech - but I think he is already almost functioning at the same level as before surgery. He may even be doing a little better already, the doctors did say his IQ could actually go up from this surgery, if the seizures stay away.
Surgery for us was a life saver, it was our last resort and I would choose to do again. Good luck to you and your son.
Re: Brain surgery for one with cerebral palsy
Submitted by Sheri1969 on Tue, 2008-05-20 - 00:49
When I was in the hospital for my surgery, one of my 3 roommates also had CP. He had epilepsy AND CP. He had the surgery of a Left Temporal Lobectomy, and he has been seizure free since 1990. I hope things work out for your son. My surgery was also successful epilepsy wise. I've not had seizures since March 1990. Good luck.
Jesus Is My Rock, Music Is My Sanity. Sheri L. Adams
When I was in the hospital for my surgery, one of my 3 roommates also had CP. He had epilepsy AND CP. He had the surgery of a Left Temporal Lobectomy, and he has been seizure free since 1990. I hope things work out for your son. My surgery was also successful epilepsy wise. I've not had seizures since March 1990. Good luck.
Jesus Is My Rock, Music Is My Sanity. Sheri L. Adams