Clinical Observation in 47 Cases of Posttraumatic Epilepsy

We analyzed clinically 47 cases of Post-Traumatic-Epilepsy (PTE) which had satisfied three items 1), 2) and 3) of the Walker's criteria. The PTE occurred more frequently in young adult males than in females (male 40: female 7). It seemed that the high rate of occurrance of PTE in young adult males was due to the high incidence of severe head injury in males. Fifty-five percent (26/47) of cases had the first attack of epilepsy within 2 years after head injury. Sixty-two percent (24/39) of cases was after severe head injury (Type III or IV by Araki's clasification). Forty-nine percent (23/47) of cases showed skull fractures in plain x-ray films. Nineteen percent (9 with 10 hematomas) of cases had intracranial hematomas in acute phase. In CT examination, 87% (26/30) of cases showed abnormal findings in which the main finding was focal low density areas. In EEG examination, 91% (40/44) of cases showed abnormal findings in which 64% was focal abnormality. In conclusion, it was emphasized that CT scan of brain and EEG were very valuable examinations in diagnosis of PTE.