Carol Camfield1, Peter Camfield2. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Electronic address: camfield@dal.ca.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Document the frequency, types and risk factors for injuries caused by seizures for people with childhood onset epilepsy. METHOD: We contacted patients with all types of epilepsy except childhood absence from the Nova Scotia Childhood Epilepsy population-based cohort. Seizure onset was between 1977 and 1985. Patients and parents were asked about serious injuries resulting from a seizure, defined as severe enough for an urgent physician or dentist visit. RESULTS: Of 595 eligible patients, we contacted 472 (79%). During an average follow up of 23.9 ± 8 years, 52 (11%) experienced ≥1 serious injury for a total of 81 injuries. Of all injuries, 24 (30%) were lacerations requiring sutures, 15 (19%) fractures, 11 (14%) broken teeth, 8 (10%) concussions, 4 (5%) burns, and 20 (25%) other. "Other" included 1 fatal drowning, 2 near-drownings, 3 shoulder dislocations and 1 severe eye injury. Four injuries occurred with the first seizure; all others after a long gap from seizure onset (range 1.5-30 years). Injuries occurred in all epilepsy syndromes, most commonly with symptomatic generalized epilepsy (17% vs. 11% p = 0.03) and intractable epilepsy (28% vs. 8% p<0.0001). Most injuries occurred during normal daily activities and were judged not to be easily preventable. CONCLUSIONS: During ∼24 years of follow up 1 out of 10 patients with childhood onset epilepsy had a serious injury as the result of a seizure. Most injuries occurred years after the initial diagnosis and were more common when seizures were more frequent. The only practical solution to injury prevention is better seizure control.
PURPOSE: Document the frequency, types and risk factors for injuries caused by seizures for people with childhood onset epilepsy. METHOD: We contacted patients with all types of epilepsy except childhood absence from the Nova Scotia Childhood Epilepsy population-based cohort. Seizure onset was between 1977 and 1985. Patients and parents were asked about serious injuries resulting from a seizure, defined as severe enough for an urgent physician or dentist visit. RESULTS: Of 595 eligible patients, we contacted 472 (79%). During an average follow up of 23.9 ± 8 years, 52 (11%) experienced ≥1 serious injury for a total of 81 injuries. Of all injuries, 24 (30%) were lacerations requiring sutures, 15 (19%) fractures, 11 (14%) broken teeth, 8 (10%) concussions, 4 (5%) burns, and 20 (25%) other. "Other" included 1 fatal drowning, 2 near-drownings, 3 shoulder dislocations and 1 severe eye injury. Four injuries occurred with the first seizure; all others after a long gap from seizure onset (range 1.5-30 years). Injuries occurred in all epilepsy syndromes, most commonly with symptomatic generalized epilepsy (17% vs. 11% p = 0.03) and intractable epilepsy (28% vs. 8% p<0.0001). Most injuries occurred during normal daily activities and were judged not to be easily preventable. CONCLUSIONS: During ∼24 years of follow up 1 out of 10 patients with childhood onset epilepsy had a serious injury as the result of a seizure. Most injuries occurred years after the initial diagnosis and were more common when seizures were more frequent. The only practical solution to injury prevention is better seizure control.
Authors: Nils Mühlenfeld; Philipp Störmann; Ingo Marzi; Felix Rosenow; Adam Strzelczyk; René D Verboket; Laurent M Willems Journal: Chin J Traumatol Date: 2021-10-15
Authors: Laurent M Willems; Nina Watermann; Saskia Richter; Lara Kay; Anke M Hermsen; Susanne Knake; Felix Rosenow; Adam Strzelczyk Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2018-06-15 Impact factor: 4.003
Authors: René D Verboket; Nils Mühlenfeld; Jasmina Sterz; Philipp Störmann; Ingo Marzi; Yunus Balcik; Felix Rosenow; Adam Strzelczyk; Laurent M Willems Journal: Chirurg Date: 2021-04 Impact factor: 0.955