Abstract

Chronic subdural hematoma is one of the most commonly encountered diseases in neurosurgery. The treatment method is well established, but seizures develop as a complication in 2.3% to 20.4% of patients. We studied patients with seizures to clarify the status of patients at the onset of seizures and define risk factors for seizures. From January 2000 through December 2014, we studied 1,077 patients with chronic subdural hematomas (1,257 hematomas) who underwent burr-hole surgery in our department. To identify risk factors for seizures, we retrospectively compared the clinical characteristics of patients with seizures with those of patients without seizures. Seizures associated with chronic subdural hematoma developed in 21 patients (1.95%) with 22 hematomas (1.75%). Many patients initially had partial seizures before operation. After hematoma removal, the seizures were relatively well controlled. Risk factors for seizures were disturbed consciousness, hemiplegia, and organized hematoma at presentation. Disturbed consciousness and hemiplegia at presentation were attributed to seizures. Because it was difficult to diagnose organized hematoma solely on the basis of preoperative imaging studies, preoperatively predicting the risk of seizures is considered challenging.

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