Children with Epilepsy

Epilepsy in children refers to an abnormality in the brain that triggers seizures. If medication or nutritional therapies do not help to control seizures in children, their pediatrician may refer them to a pediatric neurosurgeon for epilepsy treatment.

Finding the right treatment early on is crucial for the best possible outcome for children with epilepsy. UNC Pediatric Neurosurgery works closely with pediatricians and neurologists to determine the best treatment for each child. Our neurosurgery team will conduct several tests to determine if epilepsy surgery is a viable option for your child.

Epilepsy Surgery

If you would like your child to be evaluated for surgical options, the first step is to see our surgical epileptologist (a neurologist specializing in the treatment of epilepsy) to be evaluated for epilepsy surgery. Your child’s neurologist may have already done this assessment.

Our pediatric neurosurgeons offer years of experience in surgically treating children with epilepsy. Their expertise includes placement of vagus nerve stimulators (VNS) to help reduce the frequency of seizures in children, and epilepsy surgery such as resection, to remove the area of the brain where seizures originate.

Stereo EEG is a minimally invasive procedure used to locate areas of the brain where seizures originate. This allows our pediatric neurosurgery team to determine the type of epilepsy surgery that can manage or stop the patient’s seizures.

Our pediatric neurosurgery team offers definitive surgical options to cure patients with epilepsy, such as resection and callosotomy. These procedures can drastically reduce the number of seizures patients experience, and in many cases, can stop seizures completely.

We offer pediatric neurosurgery clinics in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Wilmington. Visit our pediatric neurosurgery clinic locations page for the clinic or hospital nearest you or call 984-974-4175 to schedule an appointment.

UNC Neurosurgery also offers epilepsy treatment for adult patients.