Probability of Late Onset Seizures

Late onset seizures following moderate to severe brain injury are of great concern. They can emerge a year or two or more after the initial injury. A study (Englander, J. et al. 2003) showed that the highest probability for post traumatic seizures included biparietal contusions (66%), Dural penetration with bone and metal fragments (62.5%), multiple intracranial operations (36%), multiple subcortical contusions (33%), subdural hematoma with evacuation (27%), or midline shift greater than 5mm (25%). The initial Glasgow Coma Scale was associated with the following probabilities for developing late post traumatic seizures at 24-months: a score of 3 to 8, 17%, a score of 9 to 12, 24%, a score of 13 to 15, 8%.