Delayed-onset post-craniotomy headache responsive to botulinum toxin A: a case series

Abstract

We report here the case of four patients presenting with delayed-onset temporal pain after pterional craniotomy. They reported similar symptoms: attacks of pain over the temporal region, ipsilateral to the operative site, irradiating around the eye and lasting from 10 min to 1 h. All patients had hypertrophy of at least one part of the temporalis muscle. All responded dramatically to botulinum toxin A injection (25 to 50 Botox® units) into the temporalis muscle. We suggest that the headaches were caused by aberrant nerve regeneration following surgical injury to the frontal branch of the facial nerve.

Keywords: Botulinum toxin; Fronteotemporal craniotomy; Headache; OnabotulinumtoxinA; Pain.