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The lecture offers an overview of the background and developments that led to the introduction of surgical nerve decompression in migraine patients. Dr. Austen emphasizes that this surgical treatment does not provide a cure to migraine, but instead removes nerve triggers that cause migraine attacks. These triggers are a variety of points on the forehead, eyes, temples, back of the head and neck. What they have in common is an unfavorably close relation between a nerve and other anatomical structures which cause compression and thus permanent irritation.

One of the central topics is the importance of correctly determining which patients could profit from surgery. A variety of methods and tools are presented that allow examination and selection of qualified patients.
The presentation focuses not only on the diagnostic process but also offers an elaborate introduction to the surgical techniques frequently applied.
Finally, means and methods for evaluation of postoperative outcomes are explained. In addition, the results of retro- as well as prospective studies demonstrating the success of nerve decompression are presented. Dr. Austen also discusses the significance of these results in the context of other nerve compression and chronic pain syndromes.