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Updated: Jun 11, 2026
Subcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Field Stimulation for Refractory Facial Pain
Published on: May 10, 2017
Implanted auriculotemporal nerve stimulator for the treatment of refractory chronic migraine
Thomas Simopoulos1, Zahid Bajwa, George Lantz
1Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - Anesthesia, Boston, MA, USA.
Objective:
To report a case of improved pain control and function in a patient with chronic migraine after treatment with auriculotemporal nerve stimulation.
Methods:
The patient is a 52-year-old woman with refractory pain in the bilateral temporal distribution and marked phonophobia as a result of chronic migraine.
Results:
After a successful trial period, the patient underwent implantation of bilateral peripheral nerve stimulators targeting the auriculotemporal nerves. At 16 months of follow up, her average pain intensity declined from 8-9/10 on the numeric rating scale to 5/10. Her function improved as assessed by the Migraine Disability Assessment, from total disability (grade IV) to mild disability (grade II). Her phonophobia became far less debilitating.
Conclusion:
Auriculotemporal nerve stimulation may be useful tool in the treatment of refractory pain in the temporal distribution due to chronic migraine.
