title: Injuries in Patients with Epilepsy and Some Factors Associated with Injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to evaluate injuries in patients with epilepsy and some factors associated with injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 126 epileptic patients who attended a neurology outpatient clinic of a hospital between March 2009 and March 2010. Data were collected using a patient information form and an injury evaluation form. The data were evaluated using percentage, mean and the Chi square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  82.5% of patients have sustained injury due to an epileptic seizure. Soft tissue injuries were the most common (70.2%), followed by head injury (61.5%), dental and tongue injury (%58.6), burns (24%), and orthopaedic injury (21.2%). The most common site of burns were the upper extremities and the face (36% and 24%, respectively). Burns occurred during cooking in 32% of cases. Five patients had upper extremity fractures. Four patients faced the risk of bathtub drowning. The injuries usually occurred at home. The significant risk factors for injury were generalized tonic-clonic seizures and high frequency of seizures. Twenty-six patients were taken to the emergency unit due to an injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Injury is a common problem in patients with epilepsy. Dental and tongue injury was the most common seizure-related injury. The risk factors were generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and high frequency of seizures. Patients with epilepsy can lead normal lives but certain precautions are needed to prevent seizure-related injuries.
authors.affiliation: Cumhuriyet University Medical Faculty of Health Sciences, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mukadder
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mollaoğlu
authors.affiliation: Cumhuriyet University Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ertuğrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bolayir
keywords: Epilepsy; protective measures; risk factors for injuries; seizure-related injuries