Primary headache relief in paediatric patients following rapid maxillary expansion: a prospective study and cephalometric changes analysis

Background: Primary headaches (PH) are a group of disorders greatly impairing quality of life, highly prevalent in growing population. Previous studies suggested a rhinogenic involvement in PH episodes. Modifications of nasal cavities and septum take place during rapid maxillary expansion (RME). This study aims to investigate the role of skeletal modifications due to RME on PH episodes. Methods: Sixty-eight growing patients (30/38 MF 7-12 y.o 9.2 ± 1.3 SD) were enrolled. All the selected sample patients reported at least 12 PH episodes in the previous year and were diagnosed with maxillary constriction to be treated with RME. Changes in PH episodes before and after this orthodontic procedure were analysed using paired t-tests. Correlations between age and PH episodes were assessed using Spearman correlation coefficients. Correlations between cephalometric changes and PH episodes were investigated using paired t-tests. Conclusion: RME produces significant modifications in maxillary and nasal width and lower nasal length and decreased monthly episodes of PH significantly. It can be supposed and inferred that RME has beneficial effects on PH in growing patients.