DESCRIPTION
Surgical deactivation of trigger sites is a proposed treatment of migraine headache. The procedure involves identifying an individual’s predominant migraine trigger site(s). The treatment is based on the theory that migraine headaches arise from inflammation of nerve branches in the head and neck caused by irritation of the surrounding structures.
The specific surgical procedure varies according to the individual’s headache trigger site. Surgical procedures have been developed at 4 trigger sites: frontal, temporal, rhinogenic, and occipital. Frontal headaches are believed to be activated by irritation of the supratrochlear and suborbital nerves by glabellar muscles or vessels. The surgical procedure involves removal of the glabellar muscles encasing these nerves. Fat from the upper eyelid is used to fill the defect in the muscles and shield the nerve. Temporal headaches may be activated by inflammation of the zygomatico-temporal branch of the trigeminal nerve by the temporalis muscles or vessels adjacent to the nerve. To treat migraines located at this trigger site, a segment (approximately 2.5 cm) of the zygomatico-temporal branch of the trigeminal nerve is removed endoscopically. Rhinogenic (paranasal) headaches may involve intranasal abnormalities (e.g., deviated septum), which may irritate the end branches of the trigeminal nerve. Surgical treatment includes septoplasty and turbinectomy. Finally, occipital headaches may be triggered by irritation of the occipital nerve by the semi-spinalis capitis muscle or the occipital artery. Surgery consists of removal of a segment of the semispinalis capitis muscle medial to the greater occipital nerve approximately 1 cm wide and 2.5 cm long, followed by insertion of a subcutaneous flap between the nerve and the muscle to avoid nerve impingement. The surgical procedure is performed under general anesthesia in an ambulatory care setting and takes an average of one hour.
It has been proposed that other types of headaches, e.g., tension headaches, may also be triggered by irritation of the trigeminal nerve. Surgical treatment of trigger sites is also proposed for some non-migraine headaches.
POLICY
Surgical deactivation of trigger sites for the treatment of migraine and non-migraine headache is considered investigational.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Well-designed, sham-controlled, randomized studies are lacking. There is insufficient data to determine the effects of this technology on health outcomes.
SOURCES
Bink, T., Duraku, L.S., Ter Louw, R.P., Zuidam, J.M., Mathijssen, I.M.J., & Driessen, C. (2019). The cutting edge of headache surgery: A systematic review on the value of extracranial surgery in the treatment of chronic headaches. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 144 (6), 1431-1448. Abstract retrieved December 3, 2019 from PubMed database.
BlueCross BlueShield Association. Evidence Positioning System. (3:2023). Surgical deactivation of headache trigger sites (7.01.135). Retrieved October 26, 2023 from https://www.bcbsaoca.com/eps/. (10 articles and/or guidelines reviewed)
Guyuron, B., Lineberry, K., & Nahabet, E.H. (2015). A retrospective review of the outcomes of migraine surgery in the adolescent population. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 135 (6), 1700-1705. Abstract retrieved February 28, 2018 from PubMed database.
Kurlander, D.E., Sattar, A., & Guyuron, B. (2016). In-depth review of symptoms, triggers, and surgical deactivation of frontal migraine headaches (site I). Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 138 (3), 681-688. Abstract retrieved March 15, 2017 from PubMed database.
Long, T., Ascha, M., & Guyuron, B. (2019). Efficacy of surgical treatment of migraine headaches involving the auriculotemporal nerve (Site V). Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 143 (2), 557- 563. Abstract retrieved December 3, 2019 from PubMed database.
Nagori, S.A., Jose, A., & Roychoudhury, A. (2019). Surgical management of migraine headaches: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 83 (2), 232-240. Abstract retrieved September 17, 2020 from PubMed database.
Omranifard, M., Abdali, H., Ardakani, M., & Talebianfar, M. (2016). A comparison of outcome of medical and surgical treatment of migraine headache: In 1 year follow-up. Advanced Biomedical Research, 5, 121. (Level 2 evidence)
ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE: 2/10/2013
MOST RECENT REVIEW DATE: 12/14/2023
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