A Comprehensive Review of Surgical Treatment of Migraine Surgery Safety and Efficacy

Background: Recent clinical experience with migraine surgery has demonstrated both the safety and the efficacy of operative decompression of the peripheral nerves in the face, head, and neck for the alleviation of migraine symptoms. Because of the perceived novelty of these procedures, and the paranoia surrounding a theoretical loss of clinical territory, neurologists have condemned the field of migraine surgery. The Patient Safety Subcommittee of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons ventured to investigate the published safety track record of migraine surgery in the existing body of literature. Methods: A comprehensive review of the relevant published literature was performed. The relevant databases and literature libraries were reviewed from the date of their inception through early 2018. These articles were reviewed and their findings analyzed. Results: Thirty-nine published articles were found that demonstrated a substantial, extensively replicated body of data that demonstrate a significant reduction in migraine headache symptoms and frequency (even complete elimination of headache pain) following trigger-site surgery. Conclusions: Migraine surgery is a valid method of treatment for migraine sufferers when performed by experienced plastic surgeons following a methodical protocol. These operations are associated with a high level of safety. The safety and efficacy of migraine surgery should be recognized by plastic surgeons, insurance companies, and the neurology societies.