Cauterization of inferior nasal turbinate for idiopathic headache

Authors

• Qasim A. Khader, Department of Otolaryngology, Zarka Hospital, Zarka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Khader J. Abdul-Baqi, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
• Abbas H. Mansour, Internal Medicine, Zarka Hospital, Zarka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Faisal I. Mohammed, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, PO Box 13408, Amman 11942, Jordan. Tel. +962 (6) 5355000 Ext. 2381. Fax. +962 (6) 5356746.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Idiopathic headache is a stressful complaint, whose treatment is not well established. Our study is an attempt to examine the relationship between idiopathic headache and inferior turbinate cauterization as a surgical treatment, and to explain the central physiological effect of cauterization. METHODS: Thirty-four patients, 15 females and 19 males complaining of idiopathic headache were treated by inferior turbinate cauterization. Cauterization of the inferior-medial aspect of the turbinate was carried out once under local anesthesia for few seconds. This study was performed between November 1993 and December 1996, a joint project of the Zarka Government Hospital, Zarka and Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. RESULTS: More than 82% of the patients showed significant improvement in the sense of decreased headache. CONCLUSION: Cautery of the nasal turbinate could be a novel method for treatment of idiopathic headache.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

52

Last Page

54

Recommended Citation

Khader, Qasim A.; Abdul-Baqi, Khader J.; Mansour, Abbas H.; and Mohammed, Faisal I. (2003) "Cauterization of inferior nasal turbinate for idiopathic headache," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 24: Iss. 1, Article 12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.1935