High‐Cervical Spinal Cord Stimulation for Medically Intractable Chronic Migraine. Issue 4 (23rd September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Agostino, Rinaldo; Federspiel, Barbara; Cesnulis, Evaldas; Sandor, Peter S.
• Is Part Of: Neuromodulaton. Volume 18:Issue 4(2015:Jul./Aug.)
• Page Start: 289
• Page End: 296
• Publication Date: 2014-09-23
• Subjects: Central nervous system -- Physiology -- Periodicals; Central nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ner.12236
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1094-7159

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ner12236-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>High‐cervical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a promising neurostimulation method for the control of chronic pain, including chronic cluster headache. The effects of high‐cervical SCS in patients with intractable chronic migraine pain are unknown.</p> </sec> <sec id="ner12236-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Materials and Methods</title> <p>This study is a retrospective survey of a cohort of 17 consecutive patients with medically intractable chronic migraine pain implanted with a high‐cervical SCS device between 2007 and 2011.</p> </sec> <sec id="ner12236-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>After a median of 15 months (range 2–48) since implantation, mean pain intensity was significantly reduced by 60% (<italic>p</italic> < 0.0001), with 71% of the patients experiencing a decrease of 50% or more. The median number of days with migraine decreased from 28 (range 12–28) to 9.0 (range 0–28) days (<italic>p</italic> = 0.0313). Quality of life was significantly improved (<italic>p</italic> = 0.0006), and the proportion of patients not requiring pain medication increased from 0.0% to 37.5% (<italic>p</italic> = 0.0313). Use of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments of migraine was decreased. Working capacity was not significantly improved. Complications were infrequent: three infections (13.0% of all implanted) and three lead dislocations (17.6% of all included).</p> </sec> <sec id="ner12236-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>In patients with intractable chronic migraine treated with high‐cervical SCS, pain and quality of life significantly improved, warranting further research.</p> </sec> </abstract>