====== Functional neurosurgeon ======

see [[Functional neurosurgery]].
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While an [[epilepsy center]] has capabilities for advanced seizure monitoring and surgical intervention, they are not required to have a [[functional neurosurgeon]] who is primarily focused on [[epilepsy surgery]]. Therefore, the objective of a study by Clark et al. from [[Sacramento]] was to determine the impact of having a sub-specialized, epilepsy-focused functional neurosurgeon on patient outcomes.

They conducted a retrospective [[chart review]] for all patients who underwent surgical intervention for medically refractory epilepsy at a Level 4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Center from 2008 through 2019. Data was divided into two groups: group 1 comprised patients who had surgery before the hiring of a dedicated epilepsy-focused functional neurosurgeon in 2016, and group 2 was afterward. They compared surgical procedures, significant complications, and seizure outcomes.

A total of 101 patients underwent 105 operations (52 in group 1 and 53 in group 2), not including intracranial EEG insertion. Compared to group 1, group 2 had more surgeries performed per year (15.1 vs. 6.5), and a significantly lower Engel score at last follow-up (1.78 vs. 2.57; p < 0.001). There was no difference in percentage of cases undergoing iEEG, and no difference in complication rates.

In this series, the hiring of a sub-specialized functional neurosurgeon dedicated to epilepsy surgery in a comprehensive epilepsy center was associated with an increase in surgical volume and improved seizure outcomes
((Clark AJ, Samuel R, Saez I, Kennedy J, Seyal M, Shahlaie K, Girgis F. The impact of sub specialization within functional neurosurgery on patient outcomes in a comprehensive epilepsy center. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2021 Apr 20;205:106636. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106636. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33984798.)).