Zervikogene Kopf- und Halsschmerzen

It is discussed controversially whether cervicogenic pain in the head and/or neck is a pathogenic entity. The good results obtained with manual therapy in patients with head and neck pain contradict the refusal of the majority of the neurologists to accept the diagnosis "cervicogenic headache." Complaints about headache are frequently encountered in the general ENT clinic. In many cases, the diagnosis of the different types of headaches can be based on the anamnesis. It is difficult to define a tension headache, because it is not a sharply defined syndrome and the disturbance of the neck represents only one of many factors. The versatile picture of the cervicogenic headache is caused by the complex neural connections in the region of the upper cervical spine. The differential diagnosis of the cervicogenic headache is described.     

Headache and facial pain associated with head injury

Head injury frequently results in headache and at times facial pain. Controversy concerns the relationship of injury in the head and neck area to chronic headache, particularly when no apparent structural traumatic lesion is demonstrable. Neuropathological studies suggest with concussion there is neuronal injury without gross pathology. Closed head injury of seemingly minor degrees may lead to chronic symptoms, often stereotypic, similar to those following concussion, and they have been described by the term post head trauma syndrome or postconcussional syndrome. Headache after head injury in an individual warrants careful medical, neurological, and neuroimaging assessment. The use of neuroimaging has greatly enhanced diagnosis in head-injured patients but has not satisfactorily clarified post head trauma symptoms in the less severely traumatized. Differential diagnosis is critical to avoid missing disabling, progressive, and life-threatening entities. In patients with head trauma neck injury should be sought. The headache may be nonspecific or mimic common nontraumatic headache disorders such as tension, migraine, and cluster. Recovery may include headache, psychological symptoms, and cognitive impairment. Neuropsychological assessment can be helpful in demonstrating deficiencies in mildly impaired individuals and explain the poor response to headache therapy in some patients suggesting more widespread injury. Therapy of head and facial pain follows the careful diagnosis and, if needed, assessment of the psychological status. Surgery, drug therapy, physical modalities, and at times a comprehensive neuropsychological rehabilitation program are necessary. Simple analgesics such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents for short-term treatment and tricyclic antidepressants for chronic pain are most often effective in patients without structural damage. More complex medication regimens may include beta adrenergic blockers and monamine oxidase inhibitors. Since many injuries result from motor vehicle accidents, work-related factors, and other instances in which litigation may result, legal elements may be involved. Most often the prognosis is favorable for resolution of symptoms but a small percentage of patients will have persistent symptoms after three years. The notion that litigation prolongs the duration of the illness is not valid. In the past two decades great advances have been made in neurodiagnosis, and parallel therapeutic advances are expected in the near future.     

Regional anesthesia and invasive techniques to manage head and neck pain

Regional anesthesia of the head and neck is an effective method of obtaining surgical anesthesia for various procedures. Diagnostic and therapeutic head and neck blocks can also assist with the diagnosis and management of many chronic pain conditions, including headache, postherpetic neuralgia, and cancer pain in this region. Gamma knife surgery offers a unique approach to the management of refractory trigeminal neuralgia. Because of the proximity of so many critical structures adjacent to these nerves, a solid understanding of the anatomical basis of these nerve blocks is necessary. Appropriate patient selection, monitoring, proper injection technique, knowledge of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors, possible drug interactions, and recommended doses will ensure safe and successful application of head and neck nerve blockade.     

Causes of persistent postoperative headache after surgery for vestibular schwannoma

Our aim was to elucidate the aetiology of persistent postoperative headache, a common sequel for several years after vestibular schwannoma surgery through the retrosigmoid approach. Twenty‐seven patients with reported major postoperative headache were tested for vestibular responses and cervico‐collic reflexes. The role of local anaesthesia injected into the neck muscle insertions or around the occipital nerves was evaluated. Sixteen patients operated on for vestibular schwannoma, but without headache, and 12 healthy volunteers served as control groups. Vestibular responses and cervico‐collic reflexes deteriorated equally in the patients regardless of whether or not they had a postoperative headache. Local anaesthesia did not alter the results. The posturography results were increased among both patient groups. Sumatriptan alleviated pain in nine patients and abolished it completely in one out of these nine patients. Vestibular imbalance or abnormal activation of neck muscles do not explain postoperative headache. Occipital nerve entrapment or neuralgia explains the headache in a few patients. The relatively pronounced sumatriptan effect may, however, suggest a trigeminal nerve mediated cause for postoperative headache.     

Causes of persistent postoperative headache after surgery for vestibular schwannoma.

Our aim was to elucidate the aetiology of persistent postoperative headache, a common sequel for several years after vestibular schwannoma surgery through the retrosigmoid approach. Twenty-seven patients with reported major postoperative headache were tested for vestibular responses and cervico-collic reflexes. The role of local anaesthesia injected into the neck muscle insertions or around the occipital nerves was evaluated. Sixteen patients operated on for vestibular schwannoma, but without headache, and 12 healthy volunteers served as control groups. Vestibular responses and cervico-collic reflexes deteriorated equally in the patients regardless of whether or not they had a postoperative headache. Local anaesthesia did not alter the results. The posturography results were increased among both patient groups. Sumatriptan alleviated pain in nine patients and abolished it completely in one out of these nine patients. Vestibular imbalance or abnormal activation of neck muscles do not explain postoperative headache. Occipital nerve entrapment or neuralgia explains the headache in a few patients. The relatively pronounced sumatriptan effect may, however, suggest a trigeminal nerve mediated cause for postoperative headache.     

Managing temporomandibular joint syndrome

Pain in the temporomandibular joint is primarily responsible for the morbidity often associated with this syndrome. Of the 448 cases in this study, 48% presented as ear pain and 46% complained of either headache, sinus pain, or neck pain. Temporomandibular joint pain and mastication muscle tenderness elicited with palpation were frequent physical findings. In this review, temporomandibular joint syndrome was successfully managed in 75% of 448 cases with conservative treatment consisting of patient education, heat, massage, non-narcotic analgesics, and occlusal splints. Seventeen percent were referred to dentists for restorations or orthodontics. The success rate for the 6% who underwent diagnostic arthroscopy and/or open joint surgery with disc replacement was 67%. Therefore, patients with ear pain or head and neck pain require an objective evaluation of medical history and physical examination to obtain the correct diagnosis and subsequent correct treatment and pain relief. Early diagnosis helps to prevent changes in the joint that can become irreversible with intractable pain. Surgery is reserved for those patients who fail to respond to conservative management.     

Headache in Meniere’s disease

Objective: We examined headache in 86 patients with severe or moderately severe Meniere’s disease (MD) or with Meniere’s syndrome (MS) chosen for intratympanic gentamicin treatment. Forty-five patients with vestibular neuronitis (VN) served as a control group. Methods: In addition to a clinical examination, the patients filled out a questionnaire concerning their headache. Results: Altogether 60 MD patients (70%) and 26 VN patients (58%) reported headache. Headache was severe in 35 MD patients (58%), moderate in 16 patients (27%) and slight in nine MD patients (15%), and as a whole more severe than that of the VN patients (P<0.01). The MD patients exhibited significantly more occipital (P<0.005) and neck headache (P<0.005) than the VN patients. Analgesics had been used by 82%, antidepressants by 35%, sumatriptan by 13% and carbamazepine and/or amitriptyline by 12% of the MD patients suffering from headache. Pain relief was reported as good by 27%, satisfactory by 60%, poor by 5% of the MD patients and 8% could not rate the pain relief. In this study migraine was diagnosed in 5 MD patients. Conclusion: It is concluded that MD is associated with headache that can be handicapping, and tricyclic antidepressants with pain alleviating medication is often needed to treat the headache in MD whereas sumatriptan did not alleviate the headache of the non-migraine patients.     

Otolaryngologic aspects of lyme disease

Lyme disease is a systemic illness caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by the bite of a tick in the Iocodes ricinus complex. While the illness is often associated with a characteristic rash, erythema migrans, patients may also present with a variety of complaints in the absence of the rash. The otolaryngologist may be called upon to see both groups of patients, with any number of signs and symptoms referable to the head and neck, including headache, neck pain, odynophagia, cranial nerve palsy, head and neck dysesthesia, otalgia, tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo, temporomandibular pain, lymphad-enopathy, and dysgeusia. We review our institutional experience with 266 patients with Lyme disease, 75% of whom experienced head and neck symptoms. We also summarize the diagnostic and treatment modalities for this illness.     

The role of diagnostic arthroscopy in the management of temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction may manifest itself clinically by a variety of presentations ranging from headache, pre-auricular pain or tenderness, otalgia, to mandibular hypomobility. Some symptoms may mimic forms of facial pain such as: temporal arteritis, migraine, cluster headache, trigeminal or glossopharyngeal neuralgias, myofascial pain dysfunction, or muscle contraction (tension) headache. This article will focus on a relatively new diagnostic tool that may be used to examine the TMJ for intracapsular pathology which may be responsible for the presenting patients' symptoms.     

Anatomy of headache and facial pain

In this article we review the neural and vascular supply contributing to headache and facial pain. A detailed review of the neuroanatomy, particularly of the trigeminal contribution, was formulated. Emphasis was placed on outlining the dural, supratentorial, and facial structures innervated. A detailed review of the vascular anatomy is performed, with demonstration of the trigeminal innervation of key vascular structures. An outline of pain-sensitive cranial structures is also described. The pathways examined in this article serve as the basis on which concepts of headache and facial pain will build.     

Causes of headache in patients with a primary diagnosis of sinus headache

Headache is a common occurrence among the general population. Although the pain could be a symptom of acute sinusitis, chronic sinusitis is not considered as a usual cause of headache. In addition, autonomic-related symptoms in the sinonasal region may be associated with vascular pain. Confusion regarding these symptoms could lead to an incorrect diagnosis of sinusitis. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at two tertiary referral centers with residency programs in otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery and neurology. The study included 58 patients with a diagnosis of “sinus headache” made by a primary care physician. Exclusion criteria were as follows: previous diagnosis of migraine or tension-type headache; evidence of sinus infection during the past 6 months; and the presence of mucopurulent secretions. After comprehensive otorhinolaryngologic and neurologic evaluation, appropriate treatment was started according to the final diagnosis and the patient was assessed monthly for 6 months. The final diagnoses were migraine, tension-type headache and chronic sinusitis with recurrent acute episodes in 68, 27 and 5% of the patients, respectively. Recurrent antibiotic therapy was received by 73% of patients with tension-type headache and 66% with migraine. Sinus endoscopy was performed in 26% of the patients. Therapeutic nasal septoplasty was performed in 16% of the patients with a final diagnosis of migraine, and 13% with tension-type headache. Many patients with self-described or primary care physician labeled “sinus headache” have no sinonasal abnormalities. Instead, most of them meet the IHS criteria for migraine or tension-type headache.     

Pain syndromes of the head, neck and locomotor system--determining current status

A small series of pain syndrome patients shows that disturbances of the head and neck motor system can lead to various pain syndromes as the vicious circle between pain and muscle tension is initiated by a triggering factor. These pain syndromes include varying combinations of the following symptoms: headache, referred otalgia, arthralgia of the temporomandibular joint, styloid syndrome, tendopathia of the hyoid bone, carotidynia, cervical dysphagia and probably most patients with superior laryngeal nerve neuralgia or glossopharyngeal neuralgia. A detailed differentiation of those syndromes is of little value for diagnostic and therapeutical purposes, because the mixed distribution of the pain irradiation does not indicate the localisation of the primary pathology. The pain syndromes of the head and neck motor system can be caused by temporomandibular joint pathology as well as by anatomical or functional alterations of the cervical spine. Acute exacerbations are triggered off by various influences such as inflammation, trauma, scarring after surgery or radiotherapy. Thus diagnostic and therapeutic measures must take into consideration both the motor system itself and any possible triggering factors. The problem frequently needs interdisciplinary co-operation. An attempt to handle the problem within the boundaries of a single discipline such as ENT, may lead to unnecessary and misleading steps. Guidelines for the management of such pain syndromes are outlined.     

Morbus Menière und zervikale Syndrome

Summary The history of the patient is very important. In cervical syndroms typical pain in neck, shoulder and arm are present, often combined with occipital headache and paraesthesias. The symptoms are more pronounced during the night, while waking-up and after sudden head movements. Radiological changes mainly occur at C 4–C 7, but are not pathegnomonic. Hearing loss is rather frequent, usually one-sided and non fluctuating. The audiogram is not characteristic for its cervical origin. In 80% recruitment is present, tinnitus occurs in 30–60% of the patients, but displacusis and fullness of the ear do not occur. The vestibular symptomatology is the best differential diagnostic tool.

     

Botulinumtoxin-Therapie im Kopf-Hals-Bereich

Some interesting developments, aspects, and problems concerning botulinum toxin treatment of disorders of the head and neck region have recently been reported. These new approaches are discussed in this review. They include applications into mimic muscles (prevention of scar formation, treatment of depressions), into laryngeal muscles, and into the upper esophagus. In addition, treatment of different forms of headache and tinnitus as well as applications in the autonomic nervous system are addressed. Some of these options will shortly be put into clinical use, while others have to be checked further in clinical studies.     

Primary headache syndromes and sinus headache: An approach to diagnosis and management

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and primary headache syndromes are common disease entities and headache and facial pain are common reasons for referral to otolaryngology units. Because of an association of nasal symptoms with primary headache syndromes and considerable similarities in their clinical presentations, primary headache syndromes may be misdiagnosed as sinus disease and vice versa. In this review we examine the evidence on which otolaryngologists can base clinical diagnosis and management and offer an approach to distinguishing these common clinical entities.     

Differenzialdiagnose von Kopfschmerzen in der HNO-Heilkunde

Facial pain and headaches are heterogeneous, therefore, a differential diagnosis, interdisciplinary survey and mapping of the pain symptoms are essential for determination of treatment concepts. This requires an otorhinolaryngology (ENT) adapted zoning of the various pains in the head and neck in line with the classification of the International Headache Society (IHS). In this review, idiopathic, symptomatic and neuralgic facial pain and headaches will be differentiated and classified according to their location from the ENT medical point of view. This provides otolaryngologists with a simplified, targeted diagnosis and subsequent indication for therapy.     

Elongated styloid process (Eagle’s syndrome) & severe headache

Elongated styloid process as cause of throat pain & otalgia is common, as found in classical Eagle’ Syndrome However, elongated styloid presenting with headache due to impingement an carotid artery and neurological structures like glossopharyngeal nerve, is very uncommon presentation. Here such a case with fifteen years of history of being treated as migraine, relieved by styloidectomy by Eagte’ technique and with a long symptom-free follow up of several years, is presented. For the clinician it is important to be aware of such clinical variants to successfully diagnose such head & neck pain cases, as resecting them surgically, resolves the symptoms completely.     

Contraindications to the Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre: a multidisciplinary review

The Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre is widely used in the diagnosis of positional vertigo and is regarded as safe. The manoeuvre involves a degree of neck rotation and extension, and consequently one might expect there to be some patients, particularly those with neck problems, in whom the manoeuvre is contraindicated. The term 'neck problem', however, encompasses a whole range of conditions, including soft tissue disorders, cervical spondylosis, prolapsed intervertebral disk, and severe rheumatoid arthritis with cervical instability. These in turn will give rise to a variety of symptoms, which will vary from minimal pain or stiffness to severe pain or complete immobility, and, in some cases, neurological deficit. Clarification is therefore needed to establish the point at which any neck pain or stiffness ceases to be a minor problem and becomes a contraindication to performing the Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre. This paper clarifies this issue by discussing the issue of absolute contraindications and proposing a simple functional assessment of neck mobility which can be performed prior to performing the Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre. Relative contraindications such as back pathology, vertebrobasilar ischaemia (posterior circulation ischaemic disease), nerve root compression and medical fitness are also discussed.     

Diagnosis and therapy of myo-arthropathy (Costen's syndrome)

The temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome was first described by Costen in 1936. It is a muscular-skeletal pain-disease. The pain is caused by hypertonia of the masticatory muscles and is projected into various regions of the head and neck. There is a primary dysfunctional etiology as well as a secondary etiology based on other diseases, particularly of the ENT region. Diagnostically, therefore, a process of exclusion is required. The symptoms can range from diffuse headache and facial pain to strictly localized or even neuralgic pain. Otogenic symptoms may be pain or various noises in the ear. For differential diagnosis, most of the painful diseases of the head area must be considered because of the multiform clinical manifestation of the TMJ syndrome. The treatment of the TMJ syndrome follows a multistep scheme that includes behavior therapy, physiotherapeutic methods, and occlusal therapy.     

Cluster headaches

The patient with cluster headaches will be afflicted with the most severe type of pain that one will encounter. If the physician can do something to help this patient either by symptomatic or, more importantly, prophylactic treatment, he or she will have a most thankful patient. This type of headache is seen most frequently in men, and occurs in a cyclic manner. During an acute cycle, the patient will experience a daily type of pain that may occur many times per day. The pain is usually unilateral and may be accompanied by unilateral lacrimation, conjunctivitis, and clear rhinorrhea. Prednisone is the first treatment we employ. Patients are seen for follow-up approximately twice a week, and their medication is lowered in an appropriate manner, depending on their response to the treatment. Regulation of dosage has to be individualized, and when one reaches the lower dose such as 5 to 10 mg per day, the drug may have to be tapered more slowly, or even maintained at that level for a period of time to prevent further recurrence of symptoms. We frequently will use an intravenous histamine desensitization technique to prevent further attacks. We will give the patient an ergotamine preparation to use for symptomatic relief. As these patients often have headaches during the middle of the night, we will place the patient on a 2-mg ergotamine preparation to take prior to going to bed in the evening. This often works in a prophylactic nature, and prevents the nighttime occurrence of a headache. We believe that following these principles to make the accurate diagnosis and institute the proper therapy will help the practicing otolaryngologist recognize and treat patients suffering from this severe pain.