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Head Injury as a Cause of EpilepsyIt is possible for epilepsy to develop as a result of head injuries that involve the brain. Post-traumatic epilepsy is most likely to occur after an open or penetrating wound, though on occasion it can follow a closed head injury. Even if seizures haven’t developed following a severe head injury, a physician may recommend that the person be treated briefly with an antiepileptic medication. The evaluation of seizures resulting from head trauma usually includes a thorough medical history, physical examination, electroencephalogram (EEG), and computerized tomographic (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Antiepileptic medications are prescribed in the same dosages for trauma-caused seizures as for other types of epilepsy. Seizures generally do not begin until at least three months after the injury, but the time interval is variable. Occasionally seizures occur immediately after head trauma and are called impact seizures. These may be generalized tonic-clonic seizures (also known as grand mal seizures or convulsions), but do not necessarily become a chronic problem. People whose seizures develop some time after the injury, or when there are specific findings such as a depressed skull fracture, amnesia or particular type of blood clot, have a greater likelihood of developing epilepsy. People who sustain severe head injuries may be left with other serious long-term problems of physical, mental or psychosocial functioning. There is a national organization that helps families and individuals faced with these problems. To obtain information on services and local support groups for people who have experienced head injuries that involve the brain, as well as for their families, contact:
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