Post-traumatic headaches

Abstract

Post-traumatic headaches are one of the most common and controversial secondary headache types. After mild head injury, up to 50% of people develop a post concussion syndrome, which has been controversial for over 135 years. Headache is estimated as present in 30% to 90% of patients after mild head injury. Most headaches are of the tension type, although migraines can increase in frequency or occur acutely or chronically de novo. The treatments are the same as for the primary headaches. Approximately 20% of patients have persistent post-traumatic headaches for more than 1 year, which may not resolve despite the settlement of any pending litigation.