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Post-traumatic headache (PTH) is the most common secondary headache disorder, corresponding to approximately 4 % of all symptomatic headaches. PTH, a cardinal feature of the post-concussive syndrome, usually shows a phenotype similar to migraine or tension-type headache. However, rare cases of PTH similar to trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias have been described. Many studies have investigated PTH prevalence and potential risk factors for its development and maintenance. In general population, the majority of PTH patients is female and has been involved in vehicle-related accidents. Generally, headache gradually disappears over few weeks or months; however, PTH could become persistent and very disabling in a minority of patients. This brief review will focus on PTH epidemiological aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most frequent complication of lumbar puncture is post lumbar puncture headache (PLPH). Recent studies confirmed that the use of atraumatic spinal needles significantly reduces the risk of PLPH. However, the majority of neurologists still use traumatic needles, possibly caused by misconceptions and beliefs about practical performance of atraumatic spinal needles. Therefore, we investigated the practical characteristics of atraumatic and traumatic spinal needles. An experimental setup with a fluid column was used with (1) a physiological NaCl 0.9 % solution and (2) a high protein content solution. Flow rates and duration of pressure measurements were measured using a traumatic needle and an atraumatic needle. The average flow rate differed less than 10 % between the two needle types with NaCl solution, and for the high protein solution the difference was even smaller. Time taken to perform accurate pressure measurements did not differ between the two needle types using NaCl 0.9 %, and was even slightly shorter for the atraumatic needle when using the high protein solution. Average flow rates and duration of pressure measurements are comparable between atraumatic spinal needles and traumatic needles. Therefore, these performance characteristics are no reason to favor traumatic needles over atraumatic needles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic daily headache (CDH) is one of the more frequently observed headache syndromes at major tertiary care centers. CDH is defined as headache occurring >15 days/month. Different mechanisms are involved in the development of CDH but what factors specifically contributing to the transformation from episodic into CDH remain largely unknown. Analgesic overuse is commonly identified as the most important factor for such transformation. Hypertension, allergy, asthma, arthritis, diabetes, obesity and hypothyroidism were associated with CDH in clinical series. The objective of this study is to identify risk factors of chronicity in patients with headache. A total of 1,483 consecutive patients were studied. We collected information on age, gender, headache type and comorbidity. Patients were divided into three diagnostic groups: migraine and tension-type headache (CTT) diagnosis were made according to ICHD-II, and CDH fulfilling the Proposal Headache Classification for Chronic Daily Headache described by Silberstein and Lipton (in Chronic daily headache including transformed migraine, chronic tension-type headache, and medication overuse, ). We used descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. Our data show that age, gender and headache onset were similar in the three groups. Diabetes, hypercolesterolaemia, smoke and cardiopathy prevalence did not differ in the three groups ( P > 0.05). Hypertension prevalence in CDH group (16.2%) was significantly higher than in the other two groups (migraine 7.3%; CTT 6.6%; P < 0.01). There were no differences ( P > 0.05) in hypertension prevalence between CDH with and without medication overuse. CDH patients (mean age 41.8 ± 14) referred to the Headache Center later than migraine and CTT patients (mean age 37 ± 12) ( P > 0.05). According to previous studies we found that hypertension is more frequent in CDH than in migraine and CTT. Examining this result it is possible to conclude that there exists an association between CDH and hypertension, but not that a causal relationship necessarily exists. Considering the other somatic conditions we did not find any correlation. The potential role of somatic comorbidity in CDH has to be studied in further clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac ischemia typically causes chest pain, variously radiating elsewhere. Convergence of cardiac nerve fibers on central pathways receiving somatic afferents from the head is likely to be responsible for the perception of cardiac ischemic pain as headache. A 47-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room of our hospital with a 2-hour history of occipital headache. Routine electrocardiography revealed monophasic ST-segment elevation in leads I and aVL and ST-segment depression in leads II, III, and aVF. During recording of lead V1, ventricular fibrillation occurred. Advanced life support was started immediately but failed to restore rhythm and cardiac function. Autopsy showed two-vessel disease with a ruptured plaque and total thrombotic occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending artery and 80% stenosis of the right coronary artery. In this patient, headache was the only symptom of myocardial ischemia. Anatomic convergence of cardiac nerve fibers on central pathways receiving somatic afferents from the head is likely to be responsible for the perception of cardiac ischemic pain as headache. Owing to the very rare occurrence of headache as a symptom of myocardial ischemia, diagnosis is difficult and requires a high degree of suspicion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]