Age-Related Recovery of Daily Living Activity After 1-Stage Complete Corpus Callosotomy: A Retrospective Analysis of 41 Cases.

BACKGROUND

Recovery time after corpus callosotomy (CC) is known to be longer in elderly than in younger patients.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between patient age and recovery time of activities of daily living (ADL) after 1-stage complete CC.

METHODS

This study included 41 patients (22 women; aged 13 months-34 years, median 7 years) who underwent 1-stage complete CC for medically intractable seizures with drop attacks, infantile spasms, and/or bilaterally synchronized electroencephalographic discharges between August 2009 and April 2019. The timing of restart of competence in 5 ADL categories and surgical outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

Patients (1) restarted speech at 2.2 ± 1.3 (mean ± 2 standard deviations; range 1-5) days, (2) restarted replying with their own name on request at 5.5 ± 8.6 (2-33) days, (3) restarted oral intake at 1.6 ± 1.7 (1-11) days, (5) discontinued intravenous feeding at 6.0 ± 3.0 (2-16) days, and (5) restarted ambulation or wheelchair movement at 5.8 ± 3.4 (2-10) days. Younger patients showed significantly (P < .0223) earlier recovery of ambulation or wheelchair movement, but no age difference was found in the other 4 ADL categories. Overall seizure freedom was achieved in 5 patients, excellent (>80%) seizure reduction in 11, good (50%-80%) seizure reduction in 5, and poor (<50%) seizure reduction in 20.

CONCLUSION

Early ADL recovery after 1-stage complete CC is favorable in both young and adult patients. These findings, with good surgical outcomes, will encourage more positive consideration of 1-stage complete CC in both pediatric and adult patients.