In a pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) population treated in an intensive care unit (ICU), researchers identified the clinical and radiological risk factors correlated with posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE). Between 2003 and 2013, the Finnish Intensive Care Consortium database were used to identify pediatric (<18 years) TBI patients treated in four academic university hospital ICUs in Finland. Utilizing multivariable logistic regression modeling, the risk factors associated with PTE were evaluated. Fifty-nine patients developed PTE of the 290 included in the study. Findings suggested that PTE is a common long?term complication after ICU?treated pediatric TBI.
An increased risk of PTE is associated with higher age, moderate severity of injury, obliterated suprasellar cisterns, seizures during ICU stay and surgical care.