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Electroencephalography in primary diagnosis of mild head trauma
H Pointinger1, K Sarahrudi, G Poeschl
1Department of Surgery, Military Hospital Vienna, Austria. harald@pointinger.priv.at
Objective:
the aim of this study was to compare the clinical examination and EEG examination regarding their relevance in diagnosing cerebral function changes in early head trauma.
Methods:
ninety four male patients who suffered from mild head trauma (GCS 13-15) were assigned into two groups. The first group fulfilled at least one sign of cerebral concussion (amnesia, anisocoria, changes of vigilance or vegetative symptoms such as vomiting), the second group did not. EEG examination was performed in both groups.
Results:
in the first group, more pathologic EEG records were found. These findings showed a statistical significance (p = 0.019). The concussion group showed more focal changes (p = 0.283) and specific changes (p = 0.317), but they were statistically not significant.
Conclusion:
EEG can be used for detecting pathologic unspecific alterations with a high accuracy, but is not useful in specifying the findings for an exact diagnosis.