Compression of Superficial Temporal Arteries by a Handmade Device: A Simple Way to Block or Attenuate Migraine Attacks in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Because a prolonged compression of the major scalp arteries blocks migraine attacks in a substantial number of patients, we studied the effect of the use of a simple handmade device in blocking an incoming headache attack in children and adolescents. Thirty-seven consecutive ambulatory patients were instructed to apply, at the onset of each migraine attack, a handmade device firmly compressing both temporal arteries. Thirteen patients interrupted treatment because of intolerance of the local pain provoked by compression of the device. Of the remaining 24 patients, 17 reported benefit from using the device and 7 no effect. In these 17 patients, the percentage of attacks aborted or attenuated by early use of the device was 90.5% in the first month and 95.7% in the second month; the consumption of antipain drugs dropped from the mean 4.4 +/- 2.6 in the pre-device month to 1.3 +/- 1.6 in the first and 0.6 +/- 0.9 in the second month.

The role of the neurovascular scalp structures in migraine

“…Better results were obtained by introducing the practice of a prolonged (more than 3 minutes) compression of major scalp arteries, STA and occipital (8); this procedure caused relevant or complete and enduring pain relief in 68% of patients. These positive results were confirmed by the use of a simple device permitting a very prolonged compression of the STA, applied at the beginning of migraine attacks, both in adults (9) and in children and adolescents (10). A control procedure consisted of applying the device alongside and detached from the arteries, which was significantly less efficacious.…”

Painful scalp arteries in migraine

“…Neuroapraxia could explain the effect of a prolonged compression on the main trunk of those arteries [16][17][18]. Superficial scalp arteries identified as the source of headache pain were cauterized by Shevel [19] with a beneficial effect.…”

Pressure-painful scalp arteries in children and adolescents suffering from migraine

“…A further argument in favour might be the clinical evidence of the positive effect of injections of onabotulinumtoxinA into the scalp in chronic migraine (2,3). We recently reported data in favour of a role of neurovascular scalp structures in some patients with migraine (4)(5)(6)(7). These included the presence of tender points on one or more scalp arteries in adult migraine sufferers (8).…”