Der Nervenarzt
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Headache in association with the cervical spine is often misdiagnosed and treated inadequately due to confusing and varying terminology. Primary headaches such as tension-type headache and migraine are incorrectly categorized as "cervicogenic" merely because of their occipital localization. Cervicogenic headache described by Sjastaad presents as a unilateral headache of fluctuating intensity increased by movement of the head and typically radiating from occipital to frontal regions. ⋯ Ipsilateral blockades of the C2/ C3 root and/or the major occipital nerve allow a differentiation between migraine and other primary headache syndromes. Neither pharmacological nor surgical or chiropractic procedures lead to an improvement or remission of cervicogenic headache. Pain of various anatomical regions possibly join into a common anatomical pathway then presenting as cervicogenic headache, which should therefore be understood as a homogeneous but also unspecific pattern of reaction.
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Review Comparative Study
[Differential therapy of cerebral arteriovenous malformations. An analysis with reference to personal microsurgery experiences].
A total of 126 patients (63 female, 63 male) underwent microsurgical removal of their cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) by the same surgeon. The mean age at surgery was 34.7 (6-72) years. The symptoms were intracerebral hemorrhage (37.3%), seizure disorder (34.9%) or focal neurological deficits and minor symptoms. ⋯ It should only be considered for AVMs that are expected to be fully obliterated afterwards, or for primary inoperable AVMs that are to be changed into operable ones by embolization. Size reduction of otherwise operable AVMs does not justify the additional risk of embolization. Close collaboration of the specialties involved is desirable.
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The exteroceptive suppression period (ES) of the temporalis muscle activity is a trigemino-trigeminal brain stem reflex. It will be elicited most when stimulating trigeminal sensory afferents by painful stimuli and typically leads to a biphasic interruption of voluntary muscle activity. The first phase of decreased voluntary activity is called the early exteroceptive suppression period (ES1), the second, the late exteroceptive suppression period (ES2). ⋯ Furthermore, some substances used in pain therapy, such as serotonin agonists or antagonists, acetylsalicylic acid or naloxone, may also alter the general appearance of the ES. This review will summarize different parameters that influence the ES reflex answer. Furthermore, the diagnostic value of changes in the ES for pathophysiological processes regarding pain perception and processing in certain pain syndromes will be discussed.