Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Bickle I, Knipe H, Smith H, et al. Occipital nerve stimulators. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 22 Feb 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-58246
Occipital nerve stimulators are a type of neuromodulation therapy aimed at treating chronic refractory headache and craniofacial pain such as occipital neuralgia 1-3. This form of non-pharmaceutical therapy involves an implantable device composed of an electrode and a pulse generator.
Procedure
The leads are placed superficially in the region of the greater occipital and lesser occipital nerves. The pulse generator is placed subcutaneously in the chest, abdomen or back.
Complications
Complications include lead migration (35%), infection (~30%), skin erosion (~30%) and lead fracture (~10%) 4.
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1. Sweet JA, Mitchell LS, Narouze S, Sharan AD, Falowski SM, Schwalb JM, Machado A, Rosenow JM, Petersen EA, Hayek SM, Arle JE, Pilitsis JG. Occipital Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Patients With Medically Refractory Occipital Neuralgia: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline. (2015) Neurosurgery. 77 (3): 332-41. doi:10.1227/NEU.0000000000000872 - Pubmed
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2. Stefano Palmisani, Adnan Al-Kaisy, Roberto Arcioni, Tom Smith, Andrea Negro, Giorgio Lambru, Vijay Bandikatla, Eleanor Carson, Paolo Martelletti. A six year retrospective review of occipital nerve stimulation practice - controversies and challenges of an emerging technique for treating refractory headache syndromes. (2013) The Journal of Headache and Pain. 14 (1): 67. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-14-67 - Pubmed
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3. A. Proietti Cecchini, M. Leone, V. Tullo, M. Curone, P. Di Fiore, G. Bussone. Occipital neurostimulation in primary headaches: update. (2013) Neurological Sciences. 34 (1): 113. doi:10.1007/s10072-013-1386-9 - Pubmed
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4. Jonathan Sterman, Alain Cunqueiro, Joshua Dym, Michael Spektor, Michael Lipton, Margarita V, Meir Scheinfeld. Implantable Electronic Stimulation Devices from Head to Sacrum: Imaging Features and Functions. (2019) RadioGraphics. 39 (4): 1056-1074. doi:10.1148/rg.2019180088 - Pubmed
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