Corpus Callosotomy

The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers that connects your brain’s left and right hemispheres. Like a highway, the corpus callosum transports messages back and forth.

In children or adults with drop seizures, abnormal brain signals travel quickly through the corpus callosum, affecting both sides of the brain and both sides of the body. These seizures can result in loss of muscle tone (atonic seizures) throughout your body, causing you to fall to the ground. Seizures can also cause your body to stiffen (tonic seizures) and then fall. Both types lead to cuts, broken bones or teeth, concussions, other injuries, and even death.

During a corpus callosotomy, a neurosurgeon disconnects the corpus callosum. This helps contain seizure activity in one half of the brain, leaving half the body unaffected and significantly reducing falls.

Duke neurosurgeons are expertly equipped to perform corpus callosotomy surgery using a traditional approach or minimally invasive laser approach.

Traditional Approach
A neurosurgeon creates an opening in the skull (this is called a craniotomy) to reach and disconnect the corpus callosum. This approach gives the surgeon the best view of the brain and corpus callosum.

Minimally Invasive Approach with Laser Ablation
A neurosurgeon drills two to four small holes (about the diameter of a pencil) into the skull. Using MRI guidance, a laser probe is passed through the holes. It heats up the corpus callosum tissue to disconnect it. This type of laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) may reduce your hospital stay after surgery and speed recovery.

Corpus callosotomy surgery rarely results in function loss. However, it can affect skills that require input from both sides of the brain, like reading, coordination, and balance. These skills can be regained in young children whose brains are still developing. For older children and adults, a doctor may recommend a partial corpus callosotomy, which leaves a section of the corpus callosum behind to preserve these functions.

You may be eligible for corpus callosotomy surgery if you experience drop seizures that can’t be controlled by medications.

Children and adults undergo a thorough surgical evaluation before a corpus callosotomy is recommended. Learn more about:

• Pediatric epilepsy surgery evaluation 
• Adult epilepsy surgery evaluation