Post-traumatic epilepsy

Epileptic seizures occur in 5% of all patients admitted into hospital for head injury. Risk factors for developing seizures are:

• occurrence of a seizure in the first week after injury
• occurrence of a haematoma
• presence of a depressed fracture, especially if dura torn

Post-traumatic seizures usually develop within the first year although in some cases, they do not present until 10 years after the injury. Seizures are usually generalised.

In contrast to their effect in preventing the development of early seizures, i.e. within the first week, prophylactic anti-convulsants such as phenytoin have no effect in the prevention of post-traumatic seizures.