Epilepsy in head injury

Posttraumatic epilepsy accounts for about 20% of symptomatic epilepsy in the general population and about 5% patients referred to epilepsy centers. Mechanisms that can provoke posttraumatic seizures are still not well understood. The extent of focal tissue destruction is one of the key determinants of risk of seizures. Early posttraumatic seizures can worsen ischemic injury and increase intracranial pressure. Adverse sequelae of late posttraumatic seizures include a higher mortality and personality disorders. Whilst anticonvulsant prophylaxis of early seizures is recommended, such therapy is yet to be proven to prevent late posttraumatic seizures.