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Headache and Dizziness after Roller Coaster Rides: A Case Series of 31 Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2022

Leon S. Moskatel Open the ORCID record for Leon S. Moskatel [Opens in a new window]  and
Liza Smirnoff
Leon S. Moskatel*
Affiliation:
Division of Headache, Department of Neurology, Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto, CA, USA
Liza Smirnoff
Affiliation:
Division of Headache, Department of Neurology, Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto, CA, USA Division of Comprehensive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto, CA, USA
*
Corresponding author: Leon S. Moskatel, MD, Clinical Instructor, Division of Headache, Department of Neurology, Stanford School of Medicine, 211 Quarry Road, Suite #206, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract:

Previous literature on roller coaster injuries focuses on catastrophic injuries. We conducted a retrospective study of 31 adults with headache or dizziness after roller coaster rides. Twenty five of 31 (81%) patients presented with new or worsening headache, predominantly migraine (15/25, 60%), including 8/25 (32%) with chronic migraine. Of the chronic migraine patients, 4/8 (50%) already had the diagnosis and presented with an exacerbation. Five of the 25 (20%) were ultimately found to have a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. While persistent symptoms appear to be relatively rare, patients with chronic migraine and potential CSF leaks should consider skipping these attractions.

Résumé :

RÉSUMÉ :

Céphalées et étourdissements après un tour de montagnes russes : série de cas de 31 patients.

Il fut un temps où la documentation médicale portant sur les blessures causées par les tours de montagnes russes faisait surtout état de cas de blessure gravissime. De notre côté, nous avons mené une étude rétrospective chez 31 adultes ayant ressenti des céphalées et des étourdissements après un tour de montagnes russes. Sur ce nombre, 25 patients (81 %) avaient consulté pour des céphalées nouvelles ou des céphalées plus intenses qui, la plupart du temps, se présentaient sous forme de migraine (15/25; 60 %), devenue chronique chez 8 d’entre eux (32 %). Parmi ces derniers patients (8), un diagnostic de migraine chronique avait déjà été posé chez 4 d’entre eux (50 %), qui consultaient pour des crises. Par ailleurs, une fuite de liquide céphalorachidien (LCR) a finalement été observée chez 5 patients sur les 25 (20 %). Enfin, bien que la persistance des symptômes semble relativement rare, les patients souffrant de migraine chronique et ayant des fuites possibles de LCR devraient éviter ces jeux.

Keywords

Roller coasterChronic migrainePost-traumatic headacheDizzinessCSF leak
Type
Brief Communication
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 50 , Issue 6 , November 2023 , pp. 914 - 917
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation

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