A Comprehensive Guide to Hemispherectomy Treatment

A hemispherectomy is a special brain surgery where doctors remove or disconnect the half of your brain that causes bad seizures. Before the surgery, the doctors do tests like brain scans and give you a short sleep test to find out exactly where the seizures start. During the surgery, they gently open the skull, do the procedure, and then put everything back in place carefully.

After surgery, you will stay in the hospital for a few days so doctors and nurses can watch how you’re doing. You’ll probably feel sleepy and need time to heal, but soon you'll begin therapy to help you learn to move, speak, and do everyday tasks again. Medicines that help control seizures will be adjusted over time. Many kids feel much better afterwards and can resume activities like attending school, playing with friends, and learning new things.

Here are the signs and symptoms of Hemispherectomy,

Hemiparesis (weakness on one side of the body)
Hemianopia (partial vision loss on one side)
Aphasia (speech/language difficulty)
Ataxia (impaired coordination)
Fatigue (tiredness)
Seizure-free (outcome in many cases)
Spasticity (muscle stiffness)
Cognitive (learning or memory difficulties)
Emotional (mood swings or behavioural changes)
Neuroplasticity (brain's adaptation post-surgery)

Hospital Stay

ICU monitoring (2–4 days): Patients are closely watched after surgery, often with surgical drains in place
Total hospital stay (5–7 days): After stabilisation in the ICU, patients move to a general ward before discharge

Rehabilitation & Functional Recovery

Initiation of therapy (within days): Physical, occupational, and speech therapy typically begin during the hospital stay to support early recovery.
Short-term recovery (2–8 weeks): Most children regain basic self-care, mobility, and speech within this timeframe.
Long-term rehabilitation (months): Intensive programs (e.g., inpatient or constraint-induced therapy) over several months can significantly enhance mobility, balance, and function, especially when started early.