# A Multifractal-Guided Machine Learning Framework for Late Post-Traumatic Seizure Prediction Following Hemorrhagic Traumatic Brain Injury

**Authors:** Daria Riabukhina, Kseniia Kriukova, Paul M. Vespa, Manuel B. Blanco, Paul Bogdan, Dominique Duncan, Emily A. Pereira

PMC · DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8613721/v1 · Research Square · 2026-01-19

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a machine learning method using EEG signals to predict late seizures after traumatic brain injury with high accuracy.

## Contribution

The first machine learning framework using multifractal EEG analysis to predict late post-traumatic seizures.

## Key findings

- Multifractal EEG features show significant differences between patients who develop late seizures and those who do not.
- A random forest classifier using these features achieves 95% accuracy and 98% AUC in predicting late seizures.
- The method is robust to variations in sample length and electrode selection.

## Abstract

Traumatic brain injury can lead to post-traumatic epilepsy, yet early, reliable biomarkers to predict its emergence remain elusive. By investigating the multifractal characteristics of electroencephalogramrecordings from the first available day post-injury, we develop for the first time a machine learning framework that distinguishes between traumatic brain injury patients who develop late post-traumatic seizures and those who do not. Statistical analysis demonstrates statistically significant differences in multifractal properties of EEG signals between patients who develop late post-traumatic seizures and patients who do not. We show that random forest classifier trained on multi-fractal properties of EEG achieve a high predictive accuracy (95%) and area under the curve (98%) for predicting late PTS. The predictive power of multifractal features was robust to sample length and electrode selection. Our findings indicate that multifractal properties of EEG offers a promising, objective approach to early risk stratification for post-traumatic epilepsy in neurocritical care settings.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** post-traumatic epilepsy (MONDO:0043264), traumatic brain injury (MONDO:0858950)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** Post (MESH:D000094025), Traumatic (MESH:D014947), Hemorrhagic Traumatic Brain Injury (MESH:D020201), Traumatic brain injury (MESH:D000070642), PTS (MESH:C535325), post-traumatic epilepsy (MESH:D004834), Seizure (MESH:D012640)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

6 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12869568/full.md

## References

69 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12869568/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12869568