Surgical technique 2: Temporal decompression

At Global Medical Institute, Drs Pietramaggiori and Scherer specialize in microsurgical decompression of peripheral nerves and vessels for the treatment of chronic temporal headaches, temporal migraines and facial vascular pain refractory to conventional treatment.

Who should undergo migraine surgery such as temporal decompression? Who are the "good candidates"? How is this technique minimally invasive? How can you identify your chronic temporal migraine? How does the procedure work? What are the after-effects?

In this article, we invite you to find out more about this surgical technique performed by Drs Pietramaggiori and Scherer.

Who should undergo migraine surgery such as temporal decompression?

Migraine surgery is intended for migraine sufferers whose pain cannot be relieved with medication, or who require too much medication with side effects that are incompatible with a normal life. The success of surgical treatment is intimately linked to the patient evaluation process, which is why good patient selection is key.

How to determine the right candidate for temporal decompression?

Before performing temporal decompression, our specialists at Global Medical Institute need to determine whether you are a good candidate for this treatment.

To do this, a medical history check is carried out, followed by a testing phase lasting around three months. During this testing phase, a clinical examination specific to your pain is carried out, supplemented by diagnostic tests to better understand your pain.

Other criteria are also taken into account, such as whether you have already been treated for migraines, headaches or facial vascular pain, with no results despite one or more drug treatments. This also applies to patients who cannot tolerate the side effects of treatments already tried.

These criteria, coupled with diagnostic tests, will help determine whether your migraine is indeed linked to the compression or irritation of one or more nerves. If, during the consultation, you are suffering from a migraine, our specialists will perform local anaesthesia on the painful areas of the head close to the nerves suspected of being responsible for the pain. If you feel immediately relieved by this procedure, then you may be considered a good candidate for temporal decompression.

Minimally invasive surgical techniques for your temporal migraine

At Global Medical Institute, our temporal decompression technique is minimally invasive, painless (under local anesthetic) and safe for other nerves in non-painful areas. Drs Pietramaggiori and Scherer target the temporal sensory nerves responsible for pain not relieved by conventional treatments, and decompress or release them. No other nerve branches are affected during treatment.

These techniques are mainly used for temporal migraine attacks, chronic temporal headaches and vascular facial algias.

How to detect your chronic migraine or temporal headache?

If the pain during attacks starts in a point in the temporal area, and is often accompanied by pulsations, as if the heart were beating in your head, you’re probably suffering from temporal migraines, treatable with our minimally-invasive techniques. Local anesthetic infiltration tests can confirm this diagnosis.

How is temporal decompression performed?

Minimally invasive surgery to relieve chronic temporal headaches, temporal migraines and facial vascular pain refractory to conventional treatments is performed through an incision of around 1cm in the temporal region. A small amount of local anesthetic is all that's required to perform the entire procedure pain-free. During the procedure, your expert surgeons at Global Medical Institute free the nerves and vessels under the microscope, using tiny instruments and a very precise approach. A very small dressing in the form of a mini-sparadrap will be put in place for 48 hours.

What are the after-effects of temporal decompression?

There are generally no sutures to be removed after this surgery, as the sutures are placed internally (absorbable sutures). The scars that emerge are barely visible after a short time. Pain attacks become progressively less severe over a period of around 3 months.

Your expert doctors at the Global Medical Institute will follow you step by step throughout the post-operative phase, giving you all the information you need to make your recovery as rapid as possible.

After surgery, normal activities (work, no physical exertion) can be resumed immediately.

Allow 5 to 14 days for any sporting activity.