Results of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Patients with Mucosal Contact Points Suffering From Chronic Daily Headache Non-Responding to Medications

Abstract

Summary Pain is a worldwide health disorder causing depression and decrease in daily activities, as well as cognitive, memory and attention impairments. In this regard, mucosal contact headache is a second type of headache disorder in the International Classification of Headache Disorders. Some studies have reported that contact points may work as triggers in the initiation of chronic daily headache. The aim of the paper was to evaluate the effects of surgical removal of contact points on relief of chronic daily headache. In this prospective study, thirty patients underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery and the intensity of pain was examined by visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after a six-month follow-up. Study population included 13 (43.3%) males and 17 (56.6%) females aged from 14 to 54 years, with mean age of 30 years. After surgical removal of contact points, the mean headache (days/month) was decreased from 8.3±6.5 to 1.5±1.7 days (P< 0.005). The length of daily headache was reduced from 3.5±3.1 hour/day to 36±0.8 minute/day. Based on the VAS pain rating scale, the severity of pain decreased from 5.2±1.8 (preoperative) to 1.47±1.3 (postoperative) (P:0.013). Nasal septal deviation was the commonest anatomical variation identified in these patients (21 subjects-70 %). Surgical removal of contact points can improve the therapeutic outcomes in management of patients with chronic daily headache. These contact points may act as triggers for chronic daily headache.

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