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Updated: Dec 30, 2025
Subcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Field Stimulation for Refractory Facial Pain
Published on: May 10, 2017
Placement and Anchoring of Trigeminal Neurostimulation Electrodes: Technical Report
Willard S Kasoff1, Robert W Bina2
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA, wkasoff@email.arizona.edu.
Background:
Peripheral neurostimulation (PNS) for medically refractory trigeminal and craniofacial pain is an emerging alternative to traditional surgical approaches. Technical problems with craniofacial PNS have included electrode migration and erosion, limiting the utility and cost-effectiveness of this procedure.
Objective:
To review our institutional surgical technique for trigeminal PNS implantation, focusing on a novel technique for electrode anchoring.
Methods:
Consecutive cases of permanent craniofacial PNS placement by a single surgeon over 36 months were reviewed for surgical technique and technical outcomes. Electrodes were placed percutaneously with open anchoring to the pericranium at a separate parietal incision.
Results:
Sixteen systems (53 electrodes) were implanted in 14 patients. Median follow-up was 13 months (range, 5-29 months). Electrode placement was successful in all cases with no intraoperative complications. There was 1 lead migration (6.3% per patient; 1.8% per lead) and no cases of erosion. Two patients (14.3%) required explant for infection, 1 of whom was successfully reimplanted. Three patients (21.4%) underwent surgical revision other than for infection.
Conclusions:
We present an improved method for craniofacial PNS surgery which introduces a separate incision for electrode anchoring at the parietal boss. This technique simplifies the procedure and greatly reduces rates of erosion and migration, improving patient comfort and satisfaction.
