Pathogenesis and surgical treatment of migraine and neurovascular headaches with rhinogenic trigger.

Patients (299) with various types of headaches (migraines, cluster headaches, and so-called idiopathic headaches) were operated on between 1973 and 1991. Septal correction, resection of the middle concha, ethmoidectomy, and sphenoidectomy on the corresponding headache side or occasionally on both sides were carried out. Most patients (235; 78.5%) were totally asymptomatic postoperatively; 34 (11.5%) had a sensation of pressure in the head on rare occasions but no further migraines, and 30 (11%) continued to experience headaches that occurred only rarely and were mild and of short duration.