Vestibular-Dependent Functions Following MRgLITT-A Single-Group Longitudinal Study

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Epilepsy Research
• Vestibular Neuroscience

Background:

• Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) is a common, drug-resistant epilepsy.
• Resective surgery offers higher seizure freedom rates than medication.
• Magnetic resonance guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) is a minimally invasive surgical option.
• The hippocampus, targeted by MRgLITT, is crucial for vestibular processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of MRgLITT on vestibular-dependent functions in mTLE patients.
• To assess changes in balancing, spatial orientation, and rotational memory post-MRgLITT.
• To determine the safety and efficacy of MRgLITT for preserving vestibular function.

Main Methods:

• Nine mTLE patients underwent vestibular assessments before and after MRgLITT.
• The assessment battery included clinical balancing, triangle completion, and rotational memory tests.
• Data analysis focused on pre- and post-surgery performance differences.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in spatial orientation, specifically in the triangle completion test (wheelchair condition).
• Medium to large effect sizes favored post-surgery performance across most tested conditions.
• These findings suggest potential benefits of MRgLITT for vestibular functions.

Conclusions:

• This is the first study to assess vestibular functions pre- and post-MRgLITT in mTLE patients.
• Despite a small sample size, significant improvements and medium to high effect sizes were noted.
• Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm MRgLITT's effectiveness in these functional domains.