scholarly journals Invasive pericranial nerve interventions

Cephalalgia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 1156-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Ambrosini ◽  
Jean Schoenen
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Local Anaesthetics ◽  
Chronic Cluster Headache ◽  
Surgical Decompression ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Primary Headaches ◽  
Nerve Blocks ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Background In many patients suffering from primary headaches, the available pharmacological and behavioural treatments are not satisfactory. This is a review of (minimally) invasive interventions targeting pericranial nerves that could be effective in refractory patients. Methods The interventions we will cover have in common pericranial nerves as targets, but are distinct according to their rationale, modality and invasiveness. They range from nerve blocks/infiltrations to the percutaneous implantation of neurostimulators and surgical decompression procedures. We have critically analysed the published data (PubMed) on their effectiveness and tolerability. Results and conclusions There is clear evidence for a preventative effect of suboccipital injections of local anaesthetics and/or steroids in cluster headache, while evidence for such an effect is weak in migraine. Percutaneous occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) provides significant long-term relief in more than half of drug-resistant chronic cluster headache patients, but no sham-controlled trial has tested this. The evidence that ONS has lasting beneficial effects in chronic migraine is at best equivocal. Suboccipital infiltrations are quasi-devoid of side effects, while ONS is endowed with numerous, though reversible, adverse events. Claims that surgical decompression of multiple pericranial nerves is effective in migraine are not substantiated by large, rigorous, randomized and sham-controlled trials.

TRIGEMINAL NERVE RADIOSURGICAL TREATMENT IN INTRACTABLE CHRONIC CLUSTER HEADACHE

Neurosurgery ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 1252-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Donnet ◽  
Manabu Tamura ◽  
Dominique Valade ◽  
Jean Régis
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Trigeminal Nerve ◽  
Chronic Cluster Headache ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Long Term Results ◽  
Complete Relief ◽  
Term Evaluation ◽  
The One

Abstract OBJECTIVE We have previously reported short-term results of a prospective open trial designed to evaluate trigeminal nerve radiosurgical treatment in intractable chronic cluster headache (CCH). Medium- and long-term results have not yet been reported. METHODS Ten patients presenting with a severe and drug-resistant CCH were enrolled (nine men, one woman). The radiosurgical treatment was performed according to the technique usually used for trigeminal neuralgia in our department. A single 4-mm shot was positioned at the level of the cisternal portion of the trigeminal nerve. The median distance between the center of the shot and the emergence of the nerve was 9.35 mm (range, 7.5–13.3 mm). The median of this maximum dose to the brainstem was 8.0 Gy (range, 4.0–11.1 Gy). Mean age was 49.8 years (range, 32–77 yr). Mean duration of the CCH was 9 years (range, 2–33 yr). The mean follow-up period was 36.3 months (range, 24–48 mo). RESULTS Two patients had complete relief of CCH. One patient had a good result with evolution in an episodic form. Seven patients had no improvement. Nine patients developed a new trigeminal nerve disturbance: three developed paresthesia with no hypoesthesia and six developed hypoesthesia, including two patients with deafferentation pain. Only one patient had neither paresthesia nor hypoesthesia. CONCLUSION We confirmed, with medium- and long-term evaluation, the high rate of toxicity and failure of the technique. The high toxicity, despite a methodology identical to the one used in trigeminal neuralgia, leads us to suspect an underlying specificity of the nerve in CCH. We do not recommend radiosurgery for treatment of intractable CCH.

scholarly journals Multiple cranial nerve blocks for the transitional treatment of chronic headaches

Cephalalgia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 1488-1499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Miller ◽  
Susie Lagrata ◽  
Manjit Matharu
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Chronic Migraine ◽  
Cranial Nerve ◽  
Chronic Cluster Headache ◽  
Hemicrania Continua ◽  
Paroxysmal Hemicrania ◽  
Nerve Blocks ◽  
Greater Occipital Nerve ◽  
Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania ◽  
Multiple Cranial Nerve

Background Multiple cranial nerve blocks of the greater and lesser occipital, supraorbital, supratrochlear and auriculotemporal nerves are widely used in the treatment of primary headaches. We present efficacy and safety data for these procedures. Methods In an uncontrolled open-label prospective study, 119 patients with chronic cluster headache, chronic migraine, short lasting unilateral neuralgiform attack disorders, new daily persistent headaches, hemicrania continua and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania were examined. All had failed to respond to greater occipital nerve blocks. Response was defined as a 50% reduction in either daily attack frequency or moderate-to-severe headache days after 2 weeks. Results The response rate of the whole cohort was 55.4%: Chronic cluster headache, 69.2%; chronic migraine, 49.0%; short lasting unilateral neuralgiform attack disorders, 56.3%; new daily persistent headache, 10.0%; hemicrania continua, 83.3%; and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, 25.0%. Time to benefit was between 0.50 and 33.58 hours. Benefit was maintained for up to 4 weeks in over half of responders in all groups except chronic migraine and paroxysmal hemicrania. Only minor adverse events were recorded. Conclusion Multiple cranial nerve blocks may provide an efficacious, well tolerated and reproducible transitional treatment for chronic headache disorders when greater occipital nerve blocks have been unsuccessful.

Unilateral Photophobia or Phonophobia in Migraine Compared With Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias

Cephalalgia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 626-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Irimia ◽  
E Cittadini ◽  
K Paemeleire ◽  
AS Cohen ◽  
PJ Goadsby
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Medication Overuse Headache ◽  
Episodic Migraine ◽  
Chronic Cluster Headache ◽  
Hemicrania Continua ◽  
Paroxysmal Hemicrania ◽  
Primary Headaches ◽  
Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias ◽  
A Prospective Study

Our objective was to compare the presence of self-reported unilateral photophobia or phonophobia, or both, during headache attacks comparing patients with trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs)—including cluster headache, shortlasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) and paroxysmal hemicrania—or hemicrania continua, and other headache types. We conducted a prospective study in patients attending a referral out-patient clinic over 5 months and those admitted for an intramuscular indomethacin test. Two hundred and six patients were included. In episodic migraine patients, two of 54 (4%) reported unilateral photophobia or phonophobia, or both. In chronic migraine patients, six of 48 (13%) complained of unilateral photophobia or phonophobia, or both, whereas none of the 24 patients with medication-overuse headache reported these unilateral symptoms, although these patients all had clinical symptoms suggesting the diagnosis of migraine. Only three of 22 patients (14%) suffering from new daily persistent headache (NDPH) experienced unilateral photophobia or phonophobia. In chronic cluster headache 10 of 21 patients (48%) had unilateral photophobia or phonophobia, or both, and this symptom appeared in four of five patients (80%) with episodic cluster headache. Unilateral photophobia or phonophobia, or both, were reported by six of 11 patients (55%) with hemicrania continua, five of nine (56%) with SUNCT, and four of six (67%) with chronic paroxysmal hemicrania. Unilateral phonophobia or photophobia, or both, are more frequent in TACs and hemicrania continua than in migraine and NDPH. The presence of these unilateral symptoms may be clinically useful in the differential diagnosis of primary headaches.

Neuromodulatory Approaches to the Management of Medically Refractory Cluster Headache

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Arne May ◽  
Peter J Goadsby ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Chronic Cluster Headache ◽  
Primary Headache Disorders ◽  
Greater Occipital Nerve ◽  
Term Data ◽  
Deep Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

The trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias are a group of primary headache disorders characterised by unilateral trigeminal distribution of pain that occurs in association with ipsilateral cranial autonomic features. The most prominent one is cluster headache, a dreadful disease with excrutiating pain attacks. These attacks last no longer than two hours but may occur several times per day. It is mandatory to find an efficient therapy for these patients, but some are unresponsive to all treatments. In these intractable cases invasive procedures are introduced, but the available evidence (while conflicting) illustrates that trigeminal denervation may not be effective in preventing the headache attacks or autonomic symptoms of chronic cluster headache. Modern neurostimulating approaches, such as stimulation of the greater occipital nerve and hypothalamic deep brain stimulation, supersede neurodestructive procedures. Both stimulation methods are exquisite and potentially lifesaving treatment options in otherwise intractable patients, but they need to be better characterised and further long-term data are needed.

Long-term efficacy of Boswellia serrata in four patients with chronic cluster headache

Cephalalgia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 719-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Lampl ◽  
Bernhard Haider ◽  
Christine Schweiger
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Chronic Cluster Headache ◽  
Boswellia Serrata ◽  
Term Efficacy
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