Comprehensive Surgical Treatment of Migraine Headaches

The study investigated the efficacy of surgical deactivation of migraine headache trigger sites in 125 patients, with 100 in the treatment group and 25 as controls. Patients in the treatment group received botulinum toxin A injections to identify trigger sites, and 89 who showed improvement underwent surgery. Results showed that 82 of these 89 patients (92%) experienced at least a 50% reduction in migraine frequency, duration, or intensity, with 31 reporting elimination and 51 showing improvement over an average follow-up of 396 days. In contrast, only 3 of 19 control patients (15.8%) noted a reduction in migraines, with none achieving elimination. The treatment group also saw significant improvements in migraine-specific assessments and a reduction in migraine care costs from $7612 to $925 annually. Common adverse effects included discomfort at injection sites, temple hollowing, neck weakness, and eyelid ptosis, while surgical complications included temporary dryness of the nose, rhinorrhea, scalp itching, and minor hair loss. The study concluded that surgical deactivation could significantly reduce or eliminate migraine symptoms, though further research was needed to understand the mechanism and long-term effects.