@article{ref1,
title="Is concussion a risk factor for epilepsy?",
journal="Canadian journal of neurological sciences",
year="2018",
author="Wennberg, Richard and Hiploylee, Carmen and Tai, Peter and Tator, Charles H.",
volume="45",
number="3",
pages="275-282",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies have suggested that concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is associated with a twofold or greater increase in relative risk for the development of post-traumatic epilepsy. To assess the clinical validity of these findings, we analyzed the incidence of epilepsy in a large cohort of post-concussion patients in whom concussion was strictly defined according to international guidelines. <br><br>METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 330 consecutive post-concussion patients followed by a single concussion specialist. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: abnormal brain CT/MRI, Glasgow Coma Scale48 hours. Independent variable: concussion. OUTCOME MEASURE: epilepsy incidence (dependent variable). <br><br>RESULTS: The mean number of concussions/patient was 3.3 (±2.5), mean age at first clinic visit 28 years (±14.7), and mean follow-up after first concussion 7.6 years (±10.8). Eight patients were identified whose medical records included mention of seizures or convulsions or epilepsy. Upon review by an epileptologist none met criteria for a definite diagnosis of epilepsy: four had episodic symptoms incompatible with epileptic seizures (e.g., multifocal paraesthesiae, multimodality hallucinations, classic migraine) and normal EEG/MRI investigations; four had syncopal (n=2) or concussive (n=2) convulsions. Compared with annual incidence (0.5/1000 individuals) in the general population, there was no difference in this post-concussion cohort (p=0.49). <br><br>CONCLUSION: In this large cohort of post-concussion patients we found no increased incidence of epilepsy. For at least the first 5-10 years post-injury, concussion/mTBI should not be considered a significant risk factor for epilepsy. In patients with epilepsy and a past history of concussion, the epilepsy should not be presumed to be post-traumatic.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0317-1671",
doi="10.1017/cjn.2017.300",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/cjn.2017.300"
}