Epilepsy after Non-Missile Head Injuries

Abstract

The incidence and character of epilepsy after post-natal, non-missile head injuries admitted to hospital has been studied in some 2,000 patients. A distinction is made between early epilepsy (first week after injury) and late epilepsy. Factors which predispose to late epilepsy have been identified, and methods evolved by which to calculate the probability that late epilepsy will develop. The significance of early epilepsy lies in the increased risk of late epilepsy, even if only one fit has occurred in the first week and the injury has been trivial.