Ritter et al reported risk factors for posttraumatic seizures. These can help to identify a patient who may benefit from closer monitoring. The authors are from multiple institutions in the United States.
The frequency of posttraumatic seizures varies with severity of the traumatic brain injury, time frame and interventions. Up to 20% of patients may have seizures at 5 years after the trauma.
Time frames:
(1) immediate: less than 24 hours after trauma
(2) early: 24 hours to 7 days after trauma
(3) late: > 7 days after trauma
Risk factors for immediate or early posttraumatic seizures:
(1) status post neurosurgical evacuation procedure
Risk factors for late posttraumatic seizures:
(1) race other than white
(2) subarachnoid hemorrhage
(3) age 23 to 44 years
(4) status post neurosurgical evacuation procedure
(5) immediate posttraumatic seizures
