The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two different types of occipital nerve stimulation (BurstDR (dorsal root) microdosing versus Tonic) in chronic refractory migraine. The main questions it aims to answer is whether BurstDR microdosing is effective in reducing moderate to severe headache days compared to Tonic stimulation (which is currently in use). Additionally, the safety of both types of stimulation will be studied. Participants will be asked to keep a headache diary, then have the device implanted and programmed, and keep a subsequent headache diary to see if there is an improvement in their headaches after three moths of stimulation. If they don't respond to treatment, they will be allowed to swap to the other type of stimulation to see if this improves their symptoms.
Eligible subjects will complete a baseline headache diary and questionnaires, and then be randomised to BurstDR microdosing or tonic stimulation. After implantation and stabilisation, the device is activated and they continue to complete headache diary and questionnaires at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months whilst further programming optimisation occurs. Non-responders are offered the opportunity to cross over into the opposite arm. Further diary and questionnaire monitoring will occur at 1 year and optional long term follow up at 2 years.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
Electrical stimulation of the occipital nerves using an implantable device
Efficacy of ONS
The primary objective is to compare the reduction in moderate to severe headache days at three months (i.e. weeks 8-12 post activation of the ONS device) in patients who have tonic stimulation compared to those having BurstDR stimulation. Severity of headache will be recorded on a 0-10 pain scale in a daily in a headache diary which is completed by the patient throughout the baseline and intervention period. Moderate to severe headache days are defined as: a 24-hour period with headache pain of moderate or severe intensity that lasts at least 4 hours without medication, or a day with a headache pain of at least moderate intensity that responds to acute treatment with a migraine-specific medication. On the pain scale, 1-3/10 equates to mild pain, 4-6/10 equates to moderate pain and 7-10/10 equates to severe pain.
Time frame: 3 months post activation of ONS
Number and severity of adverse events with Tonic and BurstDR stimulation
Adverse events (AEs) will be recorded for all patients at each follow up appointment (and in between appointments if appropriate). Each adverse event will be assessed for severity, causality, seriousness and expectedness. AEs will be recored from the time of ONS insertion until the end of the subject's involvement in the trial. Definitions: Mild AE: does not interfere with the participant's daily routine, and does not require further intervention; it causes slight discomfort Moderate AE: interferes with some aspects of the participant's routine, or requires further intervention, but is not damaging to health; it causes moderate discomfort Severe AE: results in alteration, discomfort or disability which is clearly damaging to health
Time frame: 1,3,6 months compared to baseline
30% responder rate
The proportion of subjects which achieve ≥30% reduction in headache load at one, three and six months compared to baseline) for tonic verses BurstDR microdosing
Time frame: 1,3,6 months compared to baseline
Monthly migraine days
Change in monthly migraine days
Time frame: 1,3,6 months compared to baseline
Monthly moderate to severe headache days
Change in monthly moderate to severe headache days compared to baseline
Time frame: 6,9,12 months post activation
Headache severity
Change in monthly mean headache severity compared to baseline The pain scale described in the primary outcome measure will be applied here.
Time frame: 1,3,6 months compared to baseline
Change in mean monthly headache load
Headache load is calculated as the sum of the product of pain severity (on 0-10 scale), headache duration in hours for each attack over a 28 day period. A lower headache load equates to a better outcome.
Time frame: At 1, 3, 6 months post activation
HIT-6 score (Headache Impact Test - 6)
Change in mean HIT-6 score compared to baseline A lower HIT-6 score equates to a better outcome. The minimum value is 36 and the maximum value is 78.
Time frame: 1,3 and 6 months post activation
MIDAS (migraine disability assessment) score
Change in MIDAS score compared to baseline A lower score equates to a better outcome. The minimum value is 0 and the maximum value is 270.
Time frame: 1,3 and 6 months post activation
Hospital anxiety scores (HADS-A)
Change in HADS-A compared to baseline A lower score equates to a better outcome. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum is 21.
Time frame: 1,3 and 6 months post activation
Hospital depression score (HADS-D)
Change in HADS-D compared to baseline A lower score equates to a better outcome. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum is 21.
Time frame: 1,3 and 6 months post activation
Change in EuroQol-5D5L (European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions) score
The EuroQol-5D5DL score measures quality of life in dimensions of life activities, and includes a global rating of their overall health.
Time frame: 1,3,6 months compared to baseline
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