ABSTRACT
In the United States, approximately 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries (TBI) requiring medical attention occur each year. Seventy-five percent of these cases are classified as mild TBI and post traumatic headache (PTH) is the most common physical symptom after injury. PTH is classified as a secondary headache disorder in the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) criteria for headache classification. In recent large, prospective clinical studies after moderate to severe TBI, prevalence can be close to half of the injured population. Cumulative incidence and prevalence have reported to be even higher after mild TBI. A significant risk factor for PTH was found to be a pre-injury history of headache. The most common headache phenotype using ICHD-3 criteria for primary headache disorders was migraine/ probable migraine in over 50% of those with headache, followed by tension-type headache. Though the treatment of PTH is largely empiric, one approach to treatment decisions is to use primary headache characterization of the PTH and treat according to recommendations for that headache.
