Robotic Surgery in Pediatric Epilepsy : Current Evidence, Clinical Impact, and Future Directions

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Pediatric Neurology
• Medical Robotics

Background:

• Pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy affects many children unresponsive to medication.
• Surgical intervention is key, but localization is challenging due to complex anatomy and monitoring limits.
• Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) and robotic stereotaxy offer improved precision and safety for epilepsy surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on robotic applications in pediatric epilepsy surgery.
• To synthesize data on SEEG implantation, stereotactic ablation, and neuromodulation.
• To identify technical aspects, outcomes, safety, and research gaps.

Main Methods:

• Review of pediatric clinical studies on robotic-assisted epilepsy surgery.
• Synthesis of data on robotic SEEG, ablative therapies, and neuromodulation.
• Analysis of technical considerations, clinical outcomes, and safety profiles.

Main Results:

• Robotic-assisted SEEG demonstrates high diagnostic yield and safety, with accuracy comparable to conventional methods.
• Robot-assisted ablative and neuromodulation procedures show promise in selected pediatric patients.
• Long-term outcome data and the direct impact of robotic accuracy require further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Robotic assistance is advancing pediatric epilepsy surgery, offering enhanced precision for SEEG, ablation, and neuromodulation.
• While promising, further prospective, multicenter studies are needed to define the optimal role and long-term benefits.
• Continued research is essential to improve outcomes for pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.