Abstract
Background
Surgery for intractable epilepsy caused by encephalomalacia (especially post-traumatic)
has been reported very scarcely in the literature.
Materials and Methods
21 cases are presented who underwent resections for encephalomalacias for medically
intractable epilepsy are presented from a series of 632 cases.
Results
Seizure duration pre-surgery ranged from 3 to 29 years (mean 7.8 years, median of
7 years). Seizure frequency ranged from 2 seizures/month to 7/day, with a median of
10 seizures/month. Causes included head trauma (9), encephalitis (2), peri natal ischemia
(3) post abscess (3) and idiopathic (4). The postoperative follow-up was 21 months
(ranging from 12 to 63 months). 17 had Engel’s Class I seizure outcome. Four patients
had poor seizure outcome (two Class IV and two Class III). All post traumatic encephalomalacias
had excellent outcome, and post encephalitis the worst.
Conclusions
Encephalomalacia with intractable epilepsy have a varied outcome and depends on the
pathology.
Key words
Encephalomalacia - traumatic - abscess - epilepsy - surgery
