Endonasal surgery for contact point headaches: a 10-year longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
Some migraine and cluster headaches may be triggered by stimulation of intranasal contact points via the trigeminovascular system. Endonasal surgery is successful in some patients, but long-term outcomes have not been reported.


METHODS
Prospective.


METHODS
This investigation included 20 patients with a mean 18-year history of refractory cluster or migraine headaches who were selected for surgery. All had endoscopically visible endonasal contact as well as a positive preoperative cocaine test result. Changes in pain severity and frequency and duration of headache attacks were statistically rated using a MANOVA. Follow-up averaged 112 months.


RESULTS
Almost 10 years after surgery, six patients remained completely free of pain, seven had significant symptom improvement, and seven received no benefit from surgery (65% improvement). Two patients had been free of all symptoms for 7 and 8 years, respectively, before complaints returned.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that some patients with refractory headaches and endonasal contact areas benefit from surgery, thereby supporting the existence of a connection between the two. Even though it is clear that surgery should be considered only if all other treatments have failed, a success rate of 65% over almost 10 years justifies evaluation of this option. Preoperative patient selection remains crucial and warrants further investigation.
Welge-Luessen
Antje
A
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Basel, Kantonsspital, Petersgraben 4, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland. awelge@uhbs.ch
Hauser
Rolf
R
Schmid
Nevenka
N
Kappos
Ludwig
L
Probst
Rudolf
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000601:surgery; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery