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Nov 13 (HealthCentersOnline) - Surgery can eliminate or significantly decrease the frequency and intensity of severe migraines, according to a recent study.

More than 28 million Americans suffer from migraines. A debilitating form of headache, migraines typically appear as a throbbing ache near the side of the forehead. Over time, the ache often intensifies to a disabling pain. Migraines are usually a chronic condition, occurring repeatedly throughout a person's life.

There is no known cure for migraines. Treatments such as medications, biofeedback and self-hypnosis aim to control symptoms and prevent future episodes. However, a study funded by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) National Endowment for Plastic Surgery suggests that surgery may help eliminate the condition.

Patients suffering from severe migraines were injected with Botox to determine which muscles triggered their migraines and to evaluate their potential response to surgery. Those patients who reported improvement after receiving the injections were chosen for the study.

The 76 participants were than randomly assigned to one of two groups. Surgical treatment was performed on 50 of the patients, while the remaining 26 patients were selected for a placebo-controlled surgery group.

Patients treated with surgery experienced a significant decrease in frequency and intensity of migraine headaches as compared to those in the placebo group. One year after treatment, 90 percent of the surgically treated patients reported a complete elimination or significant decrease in headaches.

"Roughly 10 percent of the population suffers from severe migraine headaches  until now there has been no treatment to completely eliminate them," said ASPS Member Surgeon Dr. Bahman Guyuron, study author and chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, in a press release. "This is a randomized, placebo-controlled study which provides the strongest scientific evidence that this treatment is safe and effective. We are now ready to train physicians across the country so this can become standard practice."

The surgery used in the study involved removing portions of muscle or a minor nerve, to help relieve nerve compression and inflammation.

"Elements of this procedure involve modifications of plastic surgery techniques traditionally used to minimize facial wrinkles," said Dr. Guyuron. "In fact, this research began when several of my patients mentioned that their headaches had disappeared after forehead rejuvenation."

The procedure will most likely be reserved for patients suffering from at least two to three headaches a month, those who fail to respond to medication and those who cannot take medication.

Details of the study were provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in a press release.

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Publish Date: November 13, 2006

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