Enhanced Language Recovery After Stroke with Combined Surgery and Speech Therapy

Recent clinical research published in The BMJ highlights that combining neck surgery with intensive speech and language therapy (iSLT) significantly improves communication abilities in stroke survivors suffering from aphasia. The procedure, known as C7 neurotomy (NC7), when paired with targeted therapy, has been associated with rapid and sustained language improvements, without severe adverse events or ongoing discomfort.

Stroke remains a leading cause of aphasia, affecting over 60% of patients for up to a year. While iSLT is a standard treatment for chronic post-stroke aphasia, this new study investigates whether adding NC7 surgery can produce better outcomes.

The trial involved 50 patients aged 40 to 65 years, all native Chinese speakers, who experienced aphasia and muscle spasticity in their right arm for more than a year following a stroke affecting the language-dominant left brain hemisphere. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either the combined surgical intervention plus three weeks of iSLT or only the therapy.

Researchers primarily measured the change in the Boston Naming Test (BNT) scores, which assess the ability to name common objects, at 3 days, 1 month, and 6 months post-treatment. The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant improvements at all time points, with an average increase of 11.16 points at one month compared to 2.72 points in the control group. Importantly, these improvements remained stable at six months. Additionally, patients receiving the combined treatment reported better quality of life and reduced depression related to stroke.

Adverse events were minimal, and no severe complications related to surgery were observed within six months. While the study’s demographic was relatively young and predominantly male, the findings suggest that NC7 combined with intensive SLT could be a promising approach for managing chronic aphasia post-stroke.

Experts, such as Supattana Chatromyen from the Neurological Institute of Thailand, view these results as an encouraging step forward, advocating for further research to validate long-term benefits and broader applicability. If confirmed, this combined approach could revolutionize rehabilitation strategies for stroke patients experiencing persistent language deficits, offering hope for improved communication and overall life quality.

This study encourages a reevaluation of current rehab paradigms and highlights the potential of integrating surgical options into comprehensive stroke recovery plans, especially for selected individuals meeting specific criteria.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-surgery-speech-therapy-linked-language.html