title: Long-term outcome in children with temporal lobe seizures. V: Indications and contra-indications for neurosurgery.
abstract: One hundred unselected children with temporal lobe epilepsy were followed up between 1948 and 1982. The series was a personal one. None was lost to observation. For 42 patients, contra-indications for surgery had emerged before the end of their schooldays. 29 cases were considered for surgery. 16 were rejected on technical grounds, and none of these made an epileptic, social, psychiatric or personality recovery. 13 patients were operated on, none of whom continued to have habitual epilepsy: all their biographies were remarkably improved, though several years postoperative care sometimes was needed. The authors conclude that surgery plays a major rôle in the treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy of childhood, and those who would benefit usually can be recognised before leaving school.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology; D011612:Psychosurgery; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000601:surgery