Headache Characteristics in Chronic Neck Pain Patients With Loss of Cervical Lordosis: a Cross- Sectional Study Considering Cervicogenic Headache

Abstract

Background: Loss of cervical lordosis and cervicogenic headache have similar tissue abnormalities, including weakness and atrophy in the neck muscles. Cervicogenic headache is mainly unilateral and is perceived in the occipito-tem-poro-frontal regions. However, it is not clear whether loss of cervical lordosis is a sign of headache with cervi-cal origin. Herein, we aimed to assess and compare headache characteristics in patients with and without loss of cervical lordosis. Material/Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on chronic neck pain patients with (n=38; F/M: 28/10; mean age 33.34 +/- 7.73 yrs; range 18 to 45 yrs) and without loss of cervical lordosis (n=38; F/M: 29/9; mean age 33.13 +/- 6.41 years; range 20 to 45 years), between May 2019 and November 2019. The 2 groups were assessed and com-pared for headache characteristics such as frequency, severity, localization, lateralization, duration, and spread scores. Cervical lordosis was assessed on the lateral cervical radiographs by using posterior tangent technique measuring the C2-C7 total cervical spine angle. Results: The 2 groups were similar for individual features, including age, sex, employment status, and duration of neck pain (P>0.05). The duration of headache attack was longer in patients with loss of cervical lordosis (5.72 +/- 8.12) than in those with normal cervical lordosis (3.29 +/- 3.92) (P=0.009). However, there were no significant differ-ences between the 2 groups for headache characteristics, including frequency, severity, localization, lateraliza-tion, and spread scores (P>0.05). Conclusions: Patients with loss of cervical lordosis have longer duration of headache attack than those without. Loss of cer-vical lordosis may be a specific finding associated with longer cervicogenic headache attacks.