Post concussion syndrome: brainstem seizures, a case report.

Full Abstract

Following head injury and associated unconsciousness, a 19 year old woman developed chronic intractable headaches, absence attacks and a cluster of other symptoms which did not respond to conventional medical therapy. During the course of implanting a brain stimulation electrode for the treatment of chronic and recurring incapacitating headaches, diagnostic electrographic recordings revealed focal abnormal discharges in the mesothalamus. Electrical stimulation attenuated the discharges and alleviated the headaches and associated symptoms. A retrospective analysis of this case suggested that a head injury-induced brain stem gliosis was the source of the brainstem abnormal discharges. It is speculated that various biologic systems represented within the brainstem were implicated by the reticular formation generated discharges. Symptoms making up the chronic pain syndrome were thus thought to emanate from the electric malfunctioning of those biologic systems.

Author information

Author/s: Andy, O J (OJ);

Affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center 39216-4505.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Case Reports; Journal Article

Journal: Clinical EEG (electroencephalography) (Clin Electroencephalogr), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1989-Jan; vol 20 (issue 1) : pp 24-34

Dates: Created 1989/05/02; Completed 1989/05/02; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 2784362, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.