The most common symptom after a car accident is headache. In fact, headaches are so common following any type of trauma to the head or upper body that the International Headache Society (IHS) has created diagnoses classifications for post-traumatic headache. The IHS separates the post-traumatic headache into two stages, the acute phase vs. the chronic phase. The acute phase is the first 3 months following the car accident or other trauma, while the headache is classified as chronic if it persists following the first three months after the accident. The IHS also differentiates post-traumatic headaches due to traumatic brain injury vs. whiplash.
Headaches Attributed to Traumatic Brain Injury
The IHS further differentiates post-traumatic headache due to mild traumatic brain injury vs. moderate or severe traumatic brain injury.
The IHS classifies Post-Traumatic Headache Attributed to Mild TBI as the following:
- Headache within a week of the accident; AND
- Head Trauma with all of the following:
- No loss of consciousness or loss of consciousness of less than 30 minutes
- Glascow Coma Scale of greater than 12
- Symptoms or signs consistent with concussion
Importantly, the IHS clarifies that mild head injury can result in a “complex of cognitive, behavioral and consciousness abnormalities,” despite the following:
- normal Glascow Coma Scale
- normal neurological examination
- normal neuroimaging (CT, MRI)
- normal EEG
- normal CSF examination
- normal vestibular function testing
- normal neuropsychological testing
The IHS classifies moderateTBI or severe TBI as the following:
- Headache within a week of regaining consciousness; AND
- Head Trauma with at least one of the following:
- Loss of consciousness of more than 30 minutes
- Glascow Coma Scale of less than 13
- Post-Traumatic Amnesia of more than 48 hours
- Abnormal neuroimaging (CT, MRI) demonstrating traumatic brain injury, i.e. lesion, diffuse axonal injury, subdural hematoma, skull fracture
As mentioned above, if the post-traumatic headache persists longer than 3 months it is considered chronic.
Headaches Attributed to Whiplash
Classification of post-traumatic headache resulting from whiplash requires the following:
- Headache within a week of the traumatic event; AND
- History of Whiplash defined as a sudden and significant acceleration/decleration of the neck with neck pain
As mentioned above, if the post-traumatic headache persists longer than 3 months it is considered chronic.
_________________________________________________________
Find more information on Post-Traumatic Headache or Post-Traumatic Migraine