Posttraumatic headache is a distinct headache type from migraine

Posttraumatic headache (PTH), a headache that develops within 7 days of a causative injury, is one of the most common secondary headaches, mostly attributed to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Because presence of preinjury headache is a risk factor for developing PTH and PTH symptoms often resemble migraine or tension-type headache, the association between PTH and primary headaches has attracted attention from clinicians and scientists.

Recent studies on epidemiological aspects, headache features, risk factors, imaging characteristics, and response to treatment, suggest overlapping features and distinct objective findings in PTH compared to migraine.

We argue that PTH is distinct from migraine. Therefore, PTH epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis should continue to be investigated separately from migraine.