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Published on: September 13, 2024
Occipital nerve stimulation for medically refractory hypnic headache.
Byung-Chul Son1, Seung-Ho Yang, Jae-Taek Hong
1Department of Neurosurgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea. sbc@catholic.ac.kr
Summary
Occipital nerve stimulation offers effective management for hypnic headache, a rare sleep-related disorder. This treatment provided sustained relief in a patient with chronic, refractory hypnic headache.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Headache Medicine
Background:
- Hypnic headache is a rare primary headache disorder.
- It exclusively occurs during sleep, often awakening patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case of hypnic headache successfully managed with occipital nerve stimulation.
- To evaluate the long-term efficacy of occipital nerve stimulation for refractory hypnic headache.
Main Methods:
- A 64-year-old female with a four-year history of refractory hypnic headache was treated.
- A trial of occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) was performed using a medial approach.
- Chronic ONS was initiated after a successful trial, with electrode revision due to migration.
Main Results:
- The patient experienced almost complete relief during a ten-day trial of ONS.
- Chronic ONS replicated the trial's success, providing sustained relief for 36 months.
- Electrode revision due to migration restored effectiveness, highlighting the importance of lead placement.
Conclusions:
- Occipital nerve stimulation is an effective treatment for chronic, refractory hypnic headache.
- ONS offers a viable therapeutic option for patients unresponsive to medical management.
