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Occipital nerve stimulation in primary headache syndromes
Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders
|January 26, 2012
Summary
Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) shows promise for chronic daily headache patients intractable to medical treatments. Further controlled trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and optimal use in managing disabling headache disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Chronic daily headache affects 3-5% of the population, causing significant disability.
- Many patients with chronic headache are intractable to conventional medical treatments.
- Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) is an emerging treatment for medically intractable chronic headache disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current evidence and technical aspects of occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) for chronic headache.
- To assess the efficacy and safety of ONS in patients with disabling headache syndromes.
- To identify areas for future research in ONS for intractable headache.
Main Methods:
- Review of open-label studies and controlled trial data on occipital nerve stimulation.
- Analysis of technical variations, complications, and potential mechanisms of action.
- Evaluation of the current evidence base for ONS in headache management.
Main Results:
- Open-label studies suggest ONS is effective for chronic headache.
- Recent controlled trial data are encouraging.
- Complications associated with ONS are generally minor and tolerable.
Conclusions:
- Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) is a promising treatment for medically intractable chronic headache disorders.
- More controlled trial data are needed to confirm the utility of ONS.
- Future research should focus on predictors of response, surgical techniques, and stimulation parameters.
