From blast to bench: A translational mini-review of posttraumatic headache

Current events within the military and professional sports have resulted in an increased recognition of the long-term and debilitating consequences of traumatic brain injury. Mild traumatic brain injury accounts for the majority of head injuries, and posttraumatic headache is the most common adverse effect. It is estimated that between 30% to 90% of traumatic brain injuries result in posttraumatic headache, and for a significant number of people this headache disorder can continue for up to and over a year post injury. Often, the most severe and chronic posttraumatic headache has a migraine-like phenotype and is difficult to resolve. In this review we discuss the preclinical findings from animal models of posttraumatic headache. We also describe potential mechanisms by which traumatic brain injury leads to chronic posttraumatic headache, including neuroinflammatory mediators and migraine-associated neuropeptides. There are surprisingly few preclinical studies that have investigated overlapping mechanisms between posttraumatic headache and migraine, especially considering the prevalence and debilitating nature of posttraumatic headache. Given this context, posttraumatic headache is a field with many emerging opportunities for growth. The frequency of posttraumatic headache in the general and military population is rising, and further preclinical research is required to understand, ameliorate, and treat this disabling disorder. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.