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Drug resistance

Post-Operative Burden of MSK Disease in Paediatric Patients with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new report published in Pediatric Neurosurgery provides insight into the post-operative burden of musculoskeletal (MSK) disease in paediatric patients undergoing hemispherectomy, hemispherotomy, or lobectomy for drug-resistant epilepsy. Research conducted at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) reveals that 45.2% of patients developed new MSK conditions post-operatively, with 30.3% receiving orthopaedic follow-up and 34.8% undergoing subsequent orthopaedic surgery.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study evaluated 168 paediatric patients who underwent brain hemispherectomy, hemispherotomy, or lobectomy for drug-resistant epilepsy between 2009 and 2018.
  • 45.2% of patients developed a new MSK condition post-operatively, with 30.3% receiving orthopaedic follow-up and 34.8% undergoing subsequent orthopaedic surgery.
  • The median time to diagnosis of emerging MSK pathology following neurosurgical intervention was 0.7 months (range: 0-128 months), while the median time from emergence of symptoms to orthopaedic follow-up was 9.5 months (range: 2-161 months).
  • Older age at the time of initial neurological surgery was significantly associated with decreased risk for developing new post-operative MSK pathology.
  • The research highlights a gap between the need for and provision of orthopaedic care in this population.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of early orthopaedic follow-up and intervention in paediatric patients with new MSK pathology following neurosurgical intervention.
  • The findings of this study have implications for the management and care of paediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Statistics:

  • 45.2% (n = 76) developed a new MSK condition post-operatively.
  • 30.3% (23) received orthopaedic follow-up.
  • 34.8% (8) underwent a subsequent orthopaedic surgery.
  • The median time to diagnosis of emerging MSK pathology following neurosurgical intervention was 0.7 months (range: 0-128 months).
  • The median time from emergence of symptoms to orthopaedic follow-up was 9.5 months (range: 2-161 months).

Sources:

  • Better Understanding the Orthopaedic Burden of Neurosurgical Intervention for Drug-resistant Epilepsy In Paediatric Patients. Pediatric Neurosurgery, 2025:1-15.
  • University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
  • Karger, Allschwilerstrasse 10, Ch-4009 Basel, Switzerland (www.karger.com/; content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=JournalHome&ProduktNr=224273)

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