The Comparative Effectiveness of Vagal Nerve Stimulation and Occipital Nerve Stimulation in the Treatment of Chronic Migraine

Chronic migraine is a disorder that affects millions worldwide. Research indicates that people suffering from chronic migraine respond well to neurostimulation. Many studies have assessed migraine activity with a neurostimulator, but few have compared different treatments. A systematic review of a study that assessed the migraine activity using mean monthly migraine days for those implanted with an occipital nerve stimulator device was compared to the findings of another study which assessed the mean monthly migraine days for those implanted with a vagal nerve stimulator. The patients implanted with the occipital nerve stimulator had significantly decreased monthly migraine days when compared with other matched controls. Those who were implanted with the vagal nerve stimulator also had significantly decreased monthly migraine days when compared to controls. For this review, occipital nerve stimulation had a greater reduction in monthly migraine days when compared to those who were implanted with the vagal nerve stimulator. Further studies with greater sample sizes are needed to conclude which has greater efficacy.