Post-traumatic epilepsy: Its complications and impact on occupational rehabilitation - an epidemiological study from India

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of seizure disorde r, neuropsychiatric disorders and reproductive outcome of employees with po st-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) and their effect on occupational rehabilitation . A case-comparison group study design was used to compare 30 subjects with PTE with (1) 129 non-PTE and (2) 55 non-PTE matched control employees. The 55 non-PTE matched controls were selected from the 129 non-PTE employees o n the basis of age, age at onset of seizure, age at marriage and length of employment. The PTE group had a lower fertility rate than the controls and more neuropsychiatric disorders and seizure disability. PTE employees were more occupationally rehabilitated than non-PTE employees (p = 0.033). Of th e 30 PTE subjects, thirteen who were rehabilitated by placement had more se izure disability (p = 0.007) and a higher fertility rate (p = 0.018). High prevalence of seizure disability and increased fertility rate among the pla ced PTE employees suggested that there might be some association between se verity of seizures and increased production of live offspring and work plac ement. Work suitability or placement should not be judged on clinical asses sment only but psychosocial seizure assessment, disability evaluation and o ther psychometric tests which are of equal importance.