What Is a Temporal Lobectomy?
A temporal lobectomy, or temporal lobe resection, is a neurosurgical procedure that removes the front part of the temporal lobe of the brain to treat drug-resistant epilepsy. Each person has two temporal lobes, located beneath the skull on the side of the head in the temple region. The temporal lobes play important roles in memory, emotional responses, language, and sensory memory and processing of sounds, visions, and smells.
Focal seizures occur most commonly in the temporal lobes—around 60 percent of people with focal seizures have temporal lobe epilepsy. Removal of other brain regions, such as the frontal, parietal, or occipital regions, is also possible if they are sites of recurring focal seizures.
Who Is a Candidate for Temporal Lobe Resection?
Epilepsy surgery is an option for people who have tried several anti-seizure medications but still have seizures that interfere with daily life. Temporal lobe resection is recommended for people who have focal seizures that begin in the temporal lobe.
What to Expect During a Temporal Lobectomy
Temporal lobectomy is an inpatient procedure that lasts several hours. You receive general anesthesia to keep you calm and comfortable during the procedure.
During a temporal lobectomy, your neurosurgeon:
- Makes an incision into the skin on the scalp.
- Removes a small piece of skull to expose the brain (craniotomy).
- Makes an incision through a thin membrane over the brain (the dura).
- Removes the part of the temporal lobe causing seizures.
- Replaces the skull and closes the incision with stitches and staples.
Recovery After a Temporal Epilepsy Surgery
Most people spend several days in the hospital after a temporal lobe resection before returning home. You should be able to return to work, school, and other activities in about four to six weeks.
Your neurologist may recommend speech, physical, or occupational therapy to help you recover after temporal lobe resection. Rehabilitation therapies can help lessen side effects and get you back to daily activities sooner.
Benefits and Risks of Temporal Lobe Surgery for Epilepsy
Temporal lobe resection is highly effective for controlling seizures. Between 60 and 70 percent of people who have this surgery no longer have seizures that cause lack of consciousness or abnormal movements. People who continue to have these types of seizures have significantly fewer seizure episodes—up to an 85 percent reduction. Temporal lobe resection may also reduce your need for anti-seizure medication.
Temporal lobe resection is an open brain surgery and does come with some risks. These effects are often temporary and may include:
- Changes in mood including new or worsening anxiety, depression, or psychosis (rare)
- Difficulty talking or recalling words if temporal lobectomy is performed on the left side
- Headache, jaw pain, nausea, or fatigue
- Memory issues
- Scalp numbness
- Visual disturbances such as double vision or problems with peripheral vision
- Weakness
Your doctor will discuss all the benefits and risks with you before surgery. We carefully monitor you for side effects after the procedure.
Why Choose Penn Medicine for Temporal Lobe Resection?
Penn Medicine’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center is home to leading neurosurgeons with decades of experience in temporal lobectomy and other epilepsy surgeries. We help you understand your options when anti-seizure medications don’t bring relief and support you in choosing the right treatment for you.
Patients who come to us for temporal lobe surgery for epilepsy find:
- Careful presurgical planning: Our neurosurgeons use leading-edge technology to carefully map the brain before planning a temporal lobectomy. This process allows us to protect sensitive areas of your brain that control speech and movement. You experience fewer side effects and recover more quickly.
- Deep experience: You are in the safe, skilled hands of our neurosurgeons. Their advanced skill and experience translate to better results for our patients.
- Personalized treatment plans: Our model ensures that you are at the center of your care. You have comprehensive testing that helps our epilepsy treatment team understand your seizures and where they start in your brain. We meet as a team to discuss your case and use our collective expertise to create a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs and preferences.
Make an Appointment
Please call 800-789-7366 or make an appointment.