Clinical assessment of posttraumatic headaches
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Wayne State University, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Detroit 48201, USA.
Abstract:
The evaluation of the person with posttraumatic headache remains a difficult clinical task. The rehabilitation clinician seeing the person with posttraumatic headache may encounter a large spectrum of potential etiologies for cephalgia. We believe an ordered approach to the history, physical, and laboratory examination may lead to a more accurate and focused diagnosis in some cases. In an attempt to provide a directed approach to posttraumatic headaches, this discussion is divided into extracranial and intracranial sources. A brief table guide to the etiology of pain by site is presented, and the key eight steps of examination are reviewed.
