Migraine surgery is any surgical operation undertaken with the goal of reducing or preventing migraines. It is considered by some as an alternative when other treatments are not effective. The American Headache Society has advised that no physician should recommend surgical deactivation of migraine trigger points other than in experimental clinical trials because no accurate estimates exist about the efficacy and harms of the surgery.
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Uses
Migraine surgery involving deactivation of migraine trigger points is not indicated outside of experimental clinical trials because no accurate estimates exist about the efficacy and harms of the surgery. While some observational studies have suggested possible benefit, the amount of available evidence on migraine surgery does not provide accurate estimates of the surgery's efficacy or describe the harms it causes. Long-term side effects are unknown and could be problematic. The American Headache Society and others urge caution about this procedure.
Trigger sites
Surgically inactivating of trigger sites has been studied but the studies have issues. It is based on the belief that the cause of migraines is compression of peripheral nerves.
Patent foramen ovale closure
It is unclear if an open patent foramen ovale is or is not related to migraines with an aura. Data supporting an effect of closure on the rates of migraines is mostly of low quality. The only randomized trial did not find benefit.