Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2016 , Vol 26 , Num 2
Age: As a Risk Factor for Early Onset Post-Traumatic Epilepsy in Patients with Cerebral Contusion
Sait ÖZTÜRK1, Hakan ÇAKIN2, Fatih Serhat EROL1, Metin KAPLAN1
1Fırat Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Beyin ve Sinir Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Elazığ, Türkiye
2Antalya Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Beyin ve Sinir Cerrahisi Kliniği, Antalya, Türkiye
AIM: To reveal the relationship between age and the likelihood of early post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) in patients who suffered cerebral contusion due to mild-to-moderate head trauma.

MATERIAL and METHODS: A total of 100 patients who had trauma-related cerebral contusion and a score of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≥ 9 were included in the study. The patients were categorized in five groups based on age as follows: 0-3 years Group I, 4-9 years Group II, 10-19 years Group III, 20-64 years Group IV and ≥65 years Group V. Any possible relationship of PTE with the characteristics of the contusion such as localization; cortical/deep nature; size; single/multiple lesions; coexisting fractures; presence of subarachnoid, subdural, or epidural hematoma; and GCS were investigated.

RESULTS: The study population consisted of 74 males and 26 females. The number of patients was 10, 26, 17, 34, and 13 in Groups I, II, III, IV and V respectively. Mean GCS score was 13.7, 13.3, 12.5, 13.0, and 12.0 in Groups I, II, III, IV and V respectively. PTE incidence was 10%, 19.2%, 23.5%, 14.7%, and 30.8% in Groups I, II, III, IV and V respectively. The most common localization was the frontal and temporal lobes in epileptic patients, while those with multiple lesions, a lesion diameter of ≥ 12 mm, and a GCS of ≤ 11 showed a significantly higher number of seizures.

CONCLUSION: Increasing age had a positive correlation with early PTE incidence in patients diagnosed with cerebral contusion. Anahtar Kelimeler : Epilepsy, Glasgow coma scale, Head injury, Post-traumatic epilepsy, Risk factor, Age