The surgical management of cephalalgia

Area of Science:

• Craniomaxillofacial Surgery
• Neurology
• Headache Medicine

Background:

• Headache disorder management is often outside standard craniomaxillofacial surgery practice.
• Specific indications exist for surgical intervention in headache management by craniomaxillofacial surgeons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of craniomaxillofacial surgeons in managing headache disorders.
• To highlight surgical options for primary headache conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on surgical management of headaches.
• Focus on migraine and cluster headaches amenable to surgical intervention.

Main Results:

• Migraine headaches are highly responsive to surgical management, particularly chronic migraine.
• Trigger site decompression surgery for chronic migraine reduces headache frequency, intensity, and duration in over 85% of patients.
• Botulinum neurotoxin injections can reduce cluster headache attacks.

Conclusions:

• Trigger site decompression is an effective treatment for chronic migraine.
• Craniomaxillofacial surgeons are well-positioned to manage these primary headache disorders.
• Botulinum neurotoxin is effective for cluster headaches.