Jacob Staisch1, Corinna Börner2, Magdalena Lang1, Ari Hauser1, Iris Hannibal1, Kristina Huß1, Birgit Klose1, Matthias F Lechner1, Nico Sollmann3, Florian Heinen1, Mirjam N Landgraf1, Michaela V Bonfert4. 1. LMU Hospital, Department of Pediatrics - Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Division of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany; LMU Center for Children with Medical Complexity - iSPZ Hauner, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. 2. LMU Hospital, Department of Pediatrics - Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Division of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany; LMU Center for Children with Medical Complexity - iSPZ Hauner, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany; Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany. 3. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany. 4. LMU Hospital, Department of Pediatrics - Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Division of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany; LMU Center for Children with Medical Complexity - iSPZ Hauner, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: michaela.bonfert@med.lmu.de.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Repetitive neuromuscular magnetic stimulation (rNMS) was previously applied in adult patients with episodic migraine, showing beneficial effects on headache characteristics, high safety, and convincing satisfaction. This study aims to assess rNMS as a personalized intervention in pediatric headache. METHODS: Retrospective chart review including patients with migraine, TTH, mixed type headache, or PTH, who had received at least one test rNMS session targeting the upper trapezius muscles (UTM). RESULTS: 33 patients (13.9 ± 2.5 years; 61% females) were included in the primary analysis, resulting in a total of 182 rNMS sessions. 43 adverse events were documented for 40 of those sessions (22%). Most common side effects were tingling (32.6%), muscle sore (25.5%), shoulder (9.3%) and back pain (9.3%). Secondly, in patients (n = 20) undergoing the intervention, headache frequency (p = 0.017) and minimum and maximum intensities (p = 0.017; p = 0.023) significantly decreased from baseline to 3-month after intervention. 11 patients (44%) were classified as ≥25% responders, with 7 patients (28%) experiencing a ≥75% reduction of headache days. After 73% of interventions, patients reported rNMS helped very well or well. A majority of patients would repeat (88.5%) and recommend rNMS (96.2%) to other patients. CONCLUSION: rNMS seems to meet the criteria of safety, feasibility, and acceptance among children and adolescents with three age-typical headache disorders. A significant reduction in headache frequency and intensity during a 3 months follow-up was documented. Larger, prospective, randomized, sham-controlled studies are urgently needed to confirm if rNMS may become a new valuable non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatment option for pediatric headache disorders.
INTRODUCTION: Repetitive neuromuscular magnetic stimulation (rNMS) was previously applied in adult patients with episodic migraine, showing beneficial effects on headache characteristics, high safety, and convincing satisfaction. This study aims to assess rNMS as a personalized intervention in pediatric headache. METHODS: Retrospective chart review including patients with migraine, TTH, mixed type headache, or PTH, who had received at least one test rNMS session targeting the upper trapezius muscles (UTM). RESULTS: 33 patients (13.9 ± 2.5 years; 61% females) were included in the primary analysis, resulting in a total of 182 rNMS sessions. 43 adverse events were documented for 40 of those sessions (22%). Most common side effects were tingling (32.6%), muscle sore (25.5%), shoulder (9.3%) and back pain (9.3%). Secondly, in patients (n = 20) undergoing the intervention, headache frequency (p = 0.017) and minimum and maximum intensities (p = 0.017; p = 0.023) significantly decreased from baseline to 3-month after intervention. 11 patients (44%) were classified as ≥25% responders, with 7 patients (28%) experiencing a ≥75% reduction of headache days. After 73% of interventions, patients reported rNMS helped very well or well. A majority of patients would repeat (88.5%) and recommend rNMS (96.2%) to other patients. CONCLUSION: rNMS seems to meet the criteria of safety, feasibility, and acceptance among children and adolescents with three age-typical headache disorders. A significant reduction in headache frequency and intensity during a 3 months follow-up was documented. Larger, prospective, randomized, sham-controlled studies are urgently needed to confirm if rNMS may become a new valuable non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatment option for pediatric headache disorders.