Impact of epilepsy surgery on the adaptive behavior of children with drug‐resistant epilepsy

Before surgery, patients exhibited severe adaptive delays, with an average age equivalence (AE) of 18.2 months compared to an average chronological age of 78 months. Postoperatively, significant improvements in AE were observed, particularly among patients who achieved seizure freedom (Engel class I). At the first postoperative evaluation (median of 15 months after surgery), the average AE increased to 24.1 months (p < .01). At the second postoperative evaluation (median of 34 months after surgery), the average AE further increased to 27.5 months. Seizure-free patients demonstrated greater improvements in adaptive skills compared to those who continued to experience seizures (F = 5.845, p = .018) SIGNIFICANCE: This study reinforces that epilepsy surgery can lead to significant adaptive improvements in children with DRE, including those with severe neurological impairments. The findings highlight the positive impact of seizure freedom on developmental progress and underscore the importance of early intervention to minimize adaptive delays.