All issues > Volume 42(2); 1999

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1999;42(2):227-232. Published online February 15, 1999.

Clinical Study of Post-Traumatic Seizure in Childhood and Adolescence

Jang Weon JW Moon¹, Soo Ahn SA Chae¹, Dong Keun DK Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chung Ang University, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: As morbidity and mortality resulting from physical trauma have significantly increased, the importance of trauma concerning medical, legal, and socioeconomic issues has been widely documented. Studies of post-traumatic seizure after head trauma have been reported, but mostly in adults. So this study was performed to analyse clinical findings on head trauma patients under 20 years of age.
Methods
: The medical records of 230 patients under 20 years of age, who were admitted as head trauma to Chung Ang University hospital from January 1993 till May 1997, were reviewed.
Results
: The overall incidence of post-traumatic seizure was 32 of 230 patients in this study. The incidence per age was 16.7% in less than 5 year, 12.2% in 6-10 year, 11.4% in 11-15 year, and 14.9% in 16-20 year. We found incidences of post-traumatic seizure in cases with depressed skull fracture(44.4%), subdural hematoma(28.6%), subarachnoid hemorrhage(28.6%) and intracerebral hemorrhage(21.1%). Of the 230 patients with head trauma, 2.2% had an immediate-onset seizure, 2.6% an early-onset seizure and 9.1% a late-onset seizure. Of the patients with post- traumatic seizure, abnormal EEG findings were found in 50%. EEG abnormalities were slowing (46.2%) and spike(3.8%). Recurrence rate of post-traumatic seizure was 21.9% in this study. We found a high incidence of recurrence in cases of depressed skull fracture, subdural hematoma and epidural hematoma.
Conclusion
: Considering the great influence of seizure on a child’s development and long-term prognosis, prevention based on post-traumatic seizure risk assessment is important and antiepileptic prophylaxis should be considered as risk factors.

Keywords :Post-traumatic seizure, Childhood, Adolescence