[Automatic (computer-assisted) EEG analysis in comparison with visual EEG analysis in patients following minor cranio-cerebral trauma (a follow-up study)].

Abstract

The study was designed to examine the clinical applicability and use of computer-assisted EEG-analysis in comparison to visual EEG-analysis in patients with minor head injuries. For this in 31 patients the following examinations were performed within the first 24 hours, one, three and eight weeks after traumatization: EEG, neurological examination and standardized evaluation of subjective complaints. The EEG was analysed visually as well as computer-assisted. The results were compared to the neurological findings and subjective complaints. Reversible posttraumatic EEG-changes were observed in 50% of all patients. The results of computer-analysis and visual analysis were equivalent in respect to baseline-activity (as one of the main characteristic EEG-features). Furthermore, based on computer-assisted analysis a discriminant function is provided, which is of diagnostic and prognostic value in the single patient. We conclude that the computer-assisted EEG-analysis can be a useful alternative in EEG-routine diagnosis after minor head injuries.