Impact of late post-traumatic seizures on physical health and functioning for individuals with brain injury within the community

Primary objective: To better characterize, describe and highlight issues that individuals with TBI and active LPTS may face in their daily lives. Design: Prospective multi-centre mixed method qualitative and quantitative interview. Participants: Twenty-five individuals, 5-13 years post-injury, who had reported having LPTS and TBI. Measures: Disability Rating Scale (DRS); Supervision Rating Scale (SRS); Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E); Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); Craig Handicap Assessment Reporting Technique-Short Form (CHART-SF) sub-scales: Physical Independence, Cognitive Independence, Mobility, Occupation, Social Integration; and Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF); and qualitative interview questions pertaining to management of the seizure disorder and its effect on the individual's health, function, community integration and participation. Results: Data are presented regarding seizure activity and management; return to driving post-seizure; coping and participation; and standardized outcome measures. Conclusions: Individuals with TBI and LPTS are at a double-barrelled disadvantage regarding ongoing physical, cognitive, psychosocial and reintegration issues following brain injury and epilepsy. Clearer clinical guidelines and treatment strategies need to be developed to help ameliorate these ongoing issues. Additional research is needed to identify what the rehabilitation community can do to continue to facilitate people living safely and independently.