Sequelae of craniocerebral injuries in a neurologic patient sample--an attempt at interpreting post-traumatic headache

Abstract

The sequelae of a head injury that had occurred at least six months previously, were examined in 457 patients. Neurological deficiencies, psychoorganic disturbances and disability caused by the injury correlated positively with its severity. Posttraumatic epilepsies were diagnosed approximately equally often in patients with minor head injuries and in those with more severe ones. It is probable that epilepsies have been diagnosed too often in patients with minor head injuries. Headache occurs significantly more often in patients with minor head injuries. This cannot be explained by the selection of patients alone. A hypothesis explaining the development of posttraumatic headache is presented and discussed.