Todd Paralysis in Rolandic Epilepsy

Abstract

Investigators from University of Gaziantep, Turkey described the clinical and EEG findings of patients with benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) experiencing postictal Todd paralysis. The study was conducted at the Division of Pediatric Neurology, Gaziantep University. The authors investigated a total of 108 BECTS children, aged 2-16 years, between 2011 and 2014. Detailed information regarding patient's clinical manifestations, seizure duration, and postictal features were collected. A 125-item questionnaire including diagnostic criteria from the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition, was administered. Overall, 12 patients (11% of the total) experienced postictal transient motor deficits, i.e., Todd paralysis. There were 6 boys and 6 girls, with average age of 8.08 years. Statistical analysis failed to find any difference between children with or without postictal paralysis, including seizure semiology or duration and EEG findings. In the large majority of the patients (11 out of 12) Todd paralysis occurred only once in their life and followed a focal motor seizure involving predominantly the upper extremity and the face. There was significant difference (p