Corrugator superciliaris muscle excision for tension and migraine headaches. 2005

William H Bearden, and Richard L Anderson
Center for Facial Appearances, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. whbearden@hotmail.com

OBJECTIVE This study investigates the effect of corrugator superciliaris muscle excision on patients with frequent tension or chronic migraine headaches emanating from the glabellar or frontal regions. METHODS We present a prospective study of 12 patients with chronic and frequent tension and/or migraine headaches. Patients who had already elected to undergo corrugator excision for cosmesis (n = 64) were given questionnaires to evaluate for the presence of chronic, recurrent migraine and/or tension headaches. Patients who answered in the affirmative went on to answer questions such as onset, location, frequency, severity, and duration of their headaches. Patients were grouped by types of headaches: tension, migraine, and combined headaches. Twelve patients who met all criteria were entered into the study and underwent corrugator excision in combination with blepharoplasty. Postoperative questionnaires and interviews were administered to evaluate the response of the patients' headaches to corrugator excision. RESULTS All 12 patients had less frequent headaches and said they would have the procedure performed again for headache. Eleven of 12 patients (92%) had less intense headaches after corrugator superciliaris excision. Overall, 58% noted complete relief of their headaches. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 19 months. CONCLUSIONS Corrugator superciliaris muscle excision provides significant relief for headaches emanating from or localizing to the frontal and glabellar regions. Although improvement of migraine headaches has been previously described with this technique, this is the first report, to our knowledge, of effective surgical treatment of tension headaches by corrugator excision.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008881 Migraine Disorders A class of disabling primary headache disorders, characterized by recurrent unilateral pulsatile headaches. The two major subtypes are common migraine (without aura) and classic migraine (with aura or neurological symptoms). (International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd ed. Cephalalgia 2004: suppl 1) Acute Confusional Migraine,Headache, Migraine,Status Migrainosus,Abdominal Migraine,Cervical Migraine Syndrome,Hemicrania Migraine,Migraine,Migraine Headache,Migraine Variant,Sick Headache,Abdominal Migraines,Acute Confusional Migraines,Cervical Migraine Syndromes,Disorder, Migraine,Disorders, Migraine,Headache, Sick,Headaches, Migraine,Headaches, Sick,Hemicrania Migraines,Migraine Disorder,Migraine Headaches,Migraine Syndrome, Cervical,Migraine Syndromes, Cervical,Migraine Variants,Migraine, Abdominal,Migraine, Acute Confusional,Migraine, Hemicrania,Migraines,Migraines, Abdominal,Migraines, Acute Confusional,Migraines, Hemicrania,Sick Headaches,Variant, Migraine,Variants, Migraine
D011446 Prospective Studies Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D005143 Eyelids Each of the upper and lower folds of SKIN which cover the EYE when closed. Eyelid
D005152 Facial Muscles Muscles of facial expression or mimetic muscles that include the numerous muscles supplied by the facial nerve that are attached to and move the skin of the face. (From Stedman, 25th ed) Mimetic Muscles,Facial Muscle,Mimetic Muscle,Muscle, Facial,Muscle, Mimetic,Muscles, Facial,Muscles, Mimetic
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes
D018781 Tension-Type Headache A common primary headache disorder, characterized by a dull, non-pulsatile, diffuse, band-like (or vice-like) PAIN of mild to moderate intensity in the HEAD; SCALP; or NECK. The subtypes are classified by frequency and severity of symptoms. There is no clear cause even though it has been associated with MUSCLE CONTRACTION and stress. (International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd ed. Cephalalgia 2004: suppl 1) Headache, Tension,Psychogenic Headache,Stress Headache,Tension-Vascular Headache,Idiopathic Headache,Tension Headache,Headache, Idiopathic,Headache, Psychogenic,Headache, Stress,Headache, Tension-Type,Headache, Tension-Vascular,Headaches, Idiopathic,Headaches, Psychogenic,Headaches, Stress,Headaches, Tension,Headaches, Tension-Type,Headaches, Tension-Vascular,Idiopathic Headaches,Psychogenic Headaches,Stress Headaches,Tension Headaches,Tension Type Headache,Tension Vascular Headache,Tension-Type Headaches,Tension-Vascular Headaches
D019882 Blepharoplasty Plastic surgery of the eyelid. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed) Blepharoplasties

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