Abstract
A sample of 60 cases operated on by the bimediallobotomy approach was compared with a similar number operated on by the standard bilateral technique. These two groups were stratified in terms of diagnosis and duration of hospitalization before operation. The status of the group for other variables still differed sufficiently to require more refined statistical breakdown of these unstratified variables.
The outcome following operation was determined by the use of discharge probabilities up to the period of 4 years and by a classification of adjustment at the time of observation in terms of good, moderate or poor, determined by the score on an objective social rating scale.
It was not possible to demonstrate any measurable and consistent statistical difference between the outcome of the following of two lobotomy procedures by the various techniques employed.
These results would support the suggestion of Fulton” that the medial aspect of the section is the crucial one physiologically and would not support the suggestion of McLardy and Meyer” that improvement was related to the amount of prefrontal cortex isolated from its white matter.
Although this method of comparison shows the outcome by the two techniques to be similar, one technique may be preferred over the other because of other factors not considered in this study. If such is the case, then one can come to this decision with the knowledge that the results in terms of social outcome are identical. Certainly it would appear to the authors that the bimedial approach, producing similar results in terms of social recovery, might well be preferred to the standard procedure on the basis of its more limited destructive nature.