Background Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) has been shown to be effective for selected patients with intractable headache disorders. We performed a prospective critical evaluation of complications and direct treatment costs. Methods Twenty-seven patients with chronic cluster headache (CCH, n = 24) or chronic migraine (CM, n = 3) underwent a trial phase with bilateral ONS and subsequent implantation of a permanent generator (IPG), if responsive to treatment according to predefined criteria. Procedural and long-term complications as well as direct treatment costs of neuromodulation therapy of ONS were recorded over a mean follow-up period of 20 months (range 5–47 months). Results Twenty-five of 27 patients (93%) responded to treatment. Twenty-one complications in 14 patients were identified, necessitating reoperation in 13 cases. Overall treatment costs were €761,043, including hardware-related costs of €506,019, costs for primary hospital care of €210,496, and complications related to hospitalization costs of €44,528. This results in a per case-based cost of €9445 for hospitalization and €18,741 for hardware costs, totaling €28,186. Conclusion ONS for treatment of refractory CCH and CM is a cost-intensive treatment option with a significant complication rate. Nevertheless, patients with refractory primary headache disorders may experience substantial relief of pain attacks, and headache days, respectively.
Prevalence of diagnosis and direct treatment costs of back disorders in 644,773 children and youths in Germany
