An Unusual Case of Post-Traumatic Headache Complicated by Intracranial Hypotension

Acute Visual Loss Secondary to Arnold Chiari Type I Malformation Completely Resolving After Decompressive Posterior Fossa Surgery

We describe the case of a 22-year-old woman of southeast-Asian origin, presenting with unilateral sudden visual loss after a self-healing hearing loss a week before. Ophthalmological examination showed visual acuity of light perception in the left eye, mild RAPD, normal ocular motility and an elevated optic disc with indistinct margins. Neurological examination showed no acute pathology and brain CT-MRI imaging revealed a small-almost subclinical-herniation of the cerebellar tonsils. As investigation eliminated every other infectious or inflammatory cause of papillitis, neurosurgical intervention was proposed. The patient underwent an uncomplicated occipital craniotomy with posterior fossa decompression and had a favorable revolution with regression of papilledema and a fully recovering visual acuity that reached 20/20. Chiari malformation type I refers to an abnormality of the posterior fossa that has a smaller volume than normal, leading to the herniation of cerebellar tonsils, at least 5 mm below the foramen magnum. The occurrence of papilledema associated with Chiari malformation type 1 is rare. Chiari malformation has, until today, mainly been studied among children populations, usually with a poor visual acuity recovery. The originality of our case report consists in the description of an adult patient case showing unilateral, unusual ophthalmological findings and complete recovery after surgical treatment.

Post-traumatic cephalalgia

After traumatic brain injury (TBI), a host of symptoms of varying severity and associated functional impairment may occur. One of the most commonly encountered and challenging to treat are the post-traumatic cephalalgias. Post-traumatic cephalalgia (PTC) or headache is often conceptualized as a single entity as currently classified using the ICHD-3. Yet, the terminology applicable to the major primary, non-traumatic, headache disorders such as migraine, tension headache, and cervicogenic headache are often used to specify the specific type of headache the patients experiences seemingly disparate from the unitary definition of post-traumatic headache adopted by ICHD-3. More complex post-traumatic presentations attributable to brain injury as well as other headache conditions are important to consider as well as other causes such as medication overuse headache and medication induced headache. Treatment of any post-traumatic cephalalgia must be optimized by understanding that there may be more than one headache pain generator, that comorbid traumatic problems may contribute to the pain presentation and that pre-existing conditions could impact both symptom complaint, clinical presentation and recovery. Any treatment for PTC must harmonize with ongoing medical and psychosocial aspects of recovery.

Intracranial Hypotension in the Setting of Post-Concussion Headache: A Case Series

Intracranial hypotension can be a common sequela of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. However, evidence of such a condition related to an injury in American football is currently lacking in the literature. While a positional or orthostatic headache is the most classic symptom of headaches due to intracranial hypotension, a variety of nonspecific symptoms such as neck pain, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia, and visual changes can also be present. We present two cases where collegiate American football players developed protracted headaches after a concussive injury and were subsequently diagnosed with intracranial hypotension thought secondary to spinal CSF leaks. 

Both players underwent multiple procedures of fluoroscopic-guided autologous blood patching, with improvement in their headaches. Recovery varied between the athletes. Case 1 achieved full resolution of his headaches and returned to full activity. Case 2 continued to have intermittent headaches after blood patching, but the positional nature had resolved and he was cleared for full participation in football and was closely followed during the remainder of his collegiate career. Both these cases emphasize the importance of including CSF leak as a cause of post-traumatic headache in an American football player.