Risk Factors For Post-Traumatic Seizures (Epilepsy) in The Patients With Brain Injury in Turkey

Abstract

Objective: Post-traumatic seizure following head trauma is a well-known and serious complication. Risk factors vary between study groups. Main objective of the present study is to determine the risk factors for post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) among patients with head trauma. Material and method: Medical cases with head trauma, which had been reported between 2006 and 2010 by the 2nd Forensic Medicine Expertise Council of Forensic Medicine Institute, were evaluated in terms of post-traumatic seizures and epilepsy and 1346 patients with serious head trauma were included in the study. Cranial CT and MRI of these patients were evaluated. Results: PTE was diagnosed in 101 patients (7.5% of overall cases). Generalized tonic-clonic seizure was the most commonly encountered seizure with a prevalence rate of 33.66%. Twenty-four patients had early seizures (23.77%) and 77 patients had late seizures (76.23%). Fractures (68.31%), multiple lobe lesions (31.03%) and contusions (33.33%) were encountered in PTE population. Unconsciousness just after trauma and low Glasgow Coma score were determined in the patients with PTE. Conclusions: Attention must be paid for the development PTE in the patients with compression fractures, multiple lesions and contusions. Unconsciousness and low Glasgow Coma Score are the other risk factors.