Core Viewpoint - The recent study published in the British Medical Journal demonstrates that surgical intervention can effectively treat aphasia in chronic stroke patients, highlighting the importance of surgical innovation alongside traditional medical advancements [1][2]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study involved 50 stroke patients with language impairments, randomly divided into two groups: one receiving the NC7 surgery and intensive speech therapy, while the other received only speech therapy [2]. - Results showed that the NC7 group had an average improvement of 11.16 points on the Boston Naming Test (BNT) after one month, significantly outperforming the control group's 2.72 points, with improvements remaining stable after six months [2]. - The NC7 surgery, which takes approximately 40 minutes and is cost-effective, is suggested as a viable option for doctors worldwide treating post-stroke aphasia patients [2]. Group 2: Surgical Innovation - The NC7 surgery was inspired by previous observations from a different surgical procedure (CC7 surgery), where some patients exhibited unexpected improvements in language function shortly after surgery [3]. - The hypothesis suggests that the rapid improvement in language abilities may be due to neural regulatory effects rather than traditional nerve regeneration [3][4]. - The development of the NC7 surgery represents a new treatment method for aphasia, moving from clinical discovery to systematic validation over seven years [4]. Group 3: Broader Implications - The advancement of technologies such as AI and brain-machine interfaces raises questions about the role of physicians in the evolving medical landscape, emphasizing the need for clinical observation and innovation [4]. - The study calls for a reevaluation of rehabilitation models and policies in light of these findings, advocating for a balance between embracing new technologies and maintaining a focus on clinical phenomena [2][4].
让失语症患者重新说话!登上国际医学期刊的研究者徐文东:手术刀依旧能创造医学奇迹