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Botulinum toxin in the treatment of post-traumatic headache – case study
open access
Abstract
Pharmacotherapy of acute post-traumatic tension headaches consists of analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Treatment of chronic tension-type headaches consists mainly of tricyclic antidepressants; local injection of botulinum toxin is one of the comparatively newer therapeutic options. No data on the treatment of post-traumatic headaches with botulinum toxin exist.
A 62-year-old woman with a history of major traumatic brain injury five years previously developed chronic tension-type headaches of an oppressive nature. The results of treatment with oral medication were not satisfactory. The patient was treated with local injections of 22 IU Botox® into the frontalis muscle and corrugator supercilii muscle. After only five days, the headaches had improved and after ten days the patient was free of symptoms even when under stress.
Sufficiently large-scale clinical studies are now required to better evaluate the effects of botulinum toxin on post-traumatic headaches.
Abstract
Pharmacotherapy of acute post-traumatic tension headaches consists of analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Treatment of chronic tension-type headaches consists mainly of tricyclic antidepressants; local injection of botulinum toxin is one of the comparatively newer therapeutic options. No data on the treatment of post-traumatic headaches with botulinum toxin exist.
A 62-year-old woman with a history of major traumatic brain injury five years previously developed chronic tension-type headaches of an oppressive nature. The results of treatment with oral medication were not satisfactory. The patient was treated with local injections of 22 IU Botox® into the frontalis muscle and corrugator supercilii muscle. After only five days, the headaches had improved and after ten days the patient was free of symptoms even when under stress.
Sufficiently large-scale clinical studies are now required to better evaluate the effects of botulinum toxin on post-traumatic headaches.
Keywords
botulinum toxin, post-traumatic headache, traumatic brain injury
About this articleTitle
Botulinum toxin in the treatment of post-traumatic headache – case study
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
591-594
Page views
566
Article views/downloads
618
DOI
10.5114/ninp.2012.32109
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2012;46(6):591-594.
Keywords
botulinum toxin
post-traumatic headache
traumatic brain injury
Authors
Marcela Lippert-Grüner
