Background: Evidence of a paradigm shift towards epicranial neurostimulation treatment
techniques aimed at the site of headache pain is beginning to populate the literature.
This is most apparent by 2 recently published reports describing alternative approaches
to peripheral nerve stimulation techniques for refractory migraine, including hemiplegic
migraine.
Objectives: To contribute to the emerging literature on epicranial-based neuroaugmentative
approaches which target site-specific areas of distinct, but relatively diffuse, headache pain.
Specifically, we describe the feasibility of a novel neurostimulation technique: occipital nerve
stimulation, combined with bilateral subcutaneous electrical stimulation over the temporal
region, to treat a patient dually diagnosed with “complicated migraine” and occipital
neuralgia. Integral to this report, key stimulation programming data are also presented to
better distinguish the role of this form of therapy in migraine, or other headache forms,
from both the clinical and biomedical perspectives.
Methods: Case presentation with literature review.
Results: At 24-month follow-up, headache onset had been reduced by more than 50%,
including cessation of neurologic deficits that accompanied the patient’s migraines. No
complications or adverse side effects are reported. The programming data reported here
supports a proposed mechanism of action concerning stimulation of the auriculotemporal
nerve distribution/anterior temporal region for management of refractory pain in
migraine.
Limitations: Case presentation provides only initial assessment of treatment safety, not
conclusive evidence of treatment effectiveness. Future studies which consider “followthe-path” epicranial approaches to peripheral nerve stimulation techniques for refractory
headache pain are needed to better quantify outcomes and mechanisms of action.
Conclusions: In the single case reported here, the feasibility of a novel neurostimulation
technique (occipital nerve stimulation/bilateral subcutaneous temporal region stimulation)
to treat headache is presented. At the 24-month follow-up, no complications (such as
loss of coverage due to lead displacement or lead fracture or erosion) or adverse side
effects were reported. Finally, inclusion of fundamental programming data in reports on
neuroaugmentative approaches to headache care will complement initiatives in research
from the clinical and biomedical communities involved in this field.
Key words: Epicranial neurostimulation technique, peripheral nerve stimulation,
stimulation parameters, complicated migraine, occipital neuralgia.
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation of the Occipital Nerve to Treat Postherpetic Neuralgia
