Head injury (also called “post-traumatic epilepsy)
Head injury is a known cause of epilepsy. During head trauma there are many changes that occur in the brain that can sometimes lead to bleeding and swelling. That could result in death of brain cells (neurons), creation of scar tissue and irritation of the brain cells. All these factors could lower the seizure threshold and result in seizures.
• How likely is it that someone will develop epilepsy following a head injury?
Numbers vary, anywhere from 2 to 35% of individuals who have a head injury will begin having seizures afterwards.
• What are the known risk factors to develop epilepsy after trauma?
- How severe the trauma/blow was
- Open or penetrating wounds
- Bleeding in the brain
- Coma for more than a day
- Seizures that began soon after the injury
• What tests are used to diagnose post-traumatic epilepsy?
MRI is the best test to see the brain in details. If not available, CT scan is the second best option.
• How long after the head injury are seizures likely to develop?
In over 50% of cases, seizures develop in the first year after the head injury. In almost all cases (80%), epilepsy will develop in the first two years after the injury.
• What kind of seizures can start after a head injury?
Both partial and generalized seizures can develop.
• Does every patient who suffers a significant head trauma need to start being treated with anticonvulsants?
No
• Who needs to receive treatment for epilepsy?
Only patients who develop recurrent seizures.
• Are there other problems associated with post-traumatic epilepsy for which we should be looking?
- Psychological problems of the kind seen in post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Cognitive problems, mainly memory and attention problems
- Behavioral and emotional problems: mainly if the frontal lobe is affected