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ARTICLE |

Prevention of Seizures After Cranial Trauma FREE

E. Rodin, MD
JAMA. 1982;247(17):2372-2372. doi:10.1001/jama.1982.03320420028022
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To the Editor.—  It has been shown that prevention of seizures after head injuries can be accomplished by prophylactic anticonvulsant treatment.1 It is also common practice by some neurosurgeons to administer anticonvulsant drugs to patients after surgery for brain tumors, aneurysms, or other major intracranial pathological conditions. While this is a useful practice, the results are frequently vitiated by premature decrease or total withdrawal of the anticonvulsant agent. Under these circumstances one is likely to encounter withdrawal seizures, thereby producing what one had intended to avoid. Several such patients were seen by this author during the past year, and this is probably a relatively common occurrence around the country. It is known that 80% of all patients who experience posttraumatic seizures will do so within the first two years after the insult.2,3 After five years, the yearly incidence rate does not exceed that of the general population.4

REFERENCES

Servit Z, Musil F:  Prophylactic treatment of posttraumatic epilepsy: Results of a long-term follow-up in Czechoslovakia . Epilepsia 1981;;22:315-320.
Walker AE:  Posttraumatic epilepsy . Conn Med 1967;;31:109-114.
Caveness WF, Meirowsky AM, Rish BL, et al:  The nature of posttraumatic epilepsy . J Neurosurg 1979;; 50:545-553.
Annegers JF, Grabow JD, Groover RV, et al:  Seizures after head trauma: A population study . Neurology 1980;;30:683-689.

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Servit Z, Musil F:  Prophylactic treatment of posttraumatic epilepsy: Results of a long-term follow-up in Czechoslovakia . Epilepsia 1981;;22:315-320.
Walker AE:  Posttraumatic epilepsy . Conn Med 1967;;31:109-114.
Caveness WF, Meirowsky AM, Rish BL, et al:  The nature of posttraumatic epilepsy . J Neurosurg 1979;; 50:545-553.
Annegers JF, Grabow JD, Groover RV, et al:  Seizures after head trauma: A population study . Neurology 1980;;30:683-689.
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