Posttraumatic Epilepsy Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Ewa Posner, MD, MRCP; Chief Editor: Selim R Benbadis, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jun 7, 2011
 

History

Posttraumatic seizures (PTS) are usually partial (focal) or generalized tonic-clonic. Often, both types coexist. Most early PTS are partial seizures, whereas most late PTS, especially when in patients with posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE), are generalized and either primary or partial-onset.

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Physical Examination

No specific findings are noted on physical examination.

Posttraumatic status epilepticus is a complication of PTE. It is more common in children than in adults.

Psychological problems related to social isolation and the stigma of epilepsy are common in PTE.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Ewa Posner, MD, MRCP  Consultant Pediatrician, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of North Durham, UK

Ewa Posner, MD, MRCP is a member of the following medical societies: European Paediatric Neurology Society and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Nicholas Lorenzo, MD  Chief Editor, eMedicine Neurology; Consulting Staff, Neurology Specialists and Consultants

Nicholas Lorenzo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Neurology, and American College of Physician Executives

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Jose E Cavazos, MD, PhD, FAAN  Associate Professor with Tenure, Departments of Neurology, Pharmacology, and Physiology, Program Director of the Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio; Co-Director, South Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, University Hospital System; Director of the San Antonio Veterans Affairs Epilepsy Center of Excellence and Neurodiagnostic Centers, Audie L Murphy Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Jose E Cavazos, MD, PhD, FAAN is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and American Neurological Association

Disclosure: GXC Global, Inc. Intellectual property rights Medical Director - company is to develop a seizure detecting device. No conflict with any of the eMedicine articles that I wrote or edited.

Chief Editor

Selim R Benbadis, MD  Professor, Director of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida College of Medicine

Selim R Benbadis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: UCB Pharma Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Lundbeck Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Cyberonics Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Glaxo Smith Kline Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Sleepmed/DigiTrace Honoraria Speaking, consulting

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