Seizure Relief

Seizures have been part of Caesar Wilson’s life for 10 years. His mom has lost count of how many different drugs they have tried to control his epilepsy. The ketogenic diet didn’t work, and Vagus Nerve Stimulation hadn’t made a big enough difference, so Caesar, 14, and mom Dana Martinez traveled to Memphis – from their Oklahoma home – to see if there was anything left to do.

“We’ve been trying for 10 years to figure this out. Our doctor told us if anyone could give us answers, Dr. Wheless could,” Martinez said.

After four days in Le Bonheur’s Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) testing, the option was clear as the neurologists, neurosurgeon, neuroradiologist, neuropsychologist and clinical neuroscientists discussed Caesar’s case in their weekly meeting. Just a week after he arrived in Memphis, he underwent a corpous callostomy – a surgery that separates the two hemispheres of the brain in order to limit the severity of seizures. Semmes Murphey Neurosurgeon Stephanie Einhaus, MD, performed the surgery.

Caesar left Le Bonheur five days after surgery, took a trip to the Memphis Zoo the next day, and then returned home. He has been seizure-free since surgery last spring.

Left: Sagittal T1W image shows a normal appearance of midline structure including the corpus callosum. Right: Sagittal T1W image after surgery shows transection of the corpus callosum.

Left: Axial directionally encoded FA map from DTI shows absence of midline continuity of the fibers of the corpus callosum; red normally indicates fibers that travel from side to side, and they are disrupted. Right: Tractography image obtained from DTI processing confirms no fiber bundles cross the midline.