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Posttraumatic Headache: Clinical Characterization and Management

  • Concussion and Head Injury (S Lucas, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Headache is the most common symptom after traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI has become a global health concern with an estimated 2.5 million reported TBIs per year in the USA alone. Recent longitudinal studies of posttraumatic headache (PTH) show a high cumulative incidence of 71 % after moderate or severe TBI and an even higher cumulative incidence of 91 % after mild TBI (mTBI) at 1 year after injury. Prevalence remains high at over 44 % throughout the year after moderate or severe TBI and over 54 % after mTBI. A prior history of headache is associated with a higher risk for PTH, whereas older age appears to be protective. Gender does not appear to be a risk factor for PTH. Most PTH has clinical diagnostic criteria meeting that of migraine or probable migraine when primary headache disorder classification criteria are used, followed by tension-type headache. There are no evidence-based treatment guidelines for PTH management; however, expert opinion has suggested treating the PTH using primary headache disorder treatment recommendations according to its type.

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Conflict of Interest

Sylvia Lucas is a section editor for Current Pain and Headache Reports.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Sylvia Lucas

  2. Harborview Medical Center, 325 9th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA

    Sylvia Lucas

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Correspondence to Sylvia Lucas.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Concussion and Head Injury

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Lucas, S. Posttraumatic Headache: Clinical Characterization and Management. Curr Pain Headache Rep 19, 48 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-015-0520-1

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