A Novel Method of Noninvasive Sphenopalatine Ganglion Stimulation in Craniofacial Pain: Case Series and Literature Review

The findings of this study, which are based on data from four patients and in accordance with the literature reviewed, appear to show that noninvasive, transmucosal SPG stimulation is an effective and safe therapeutic option for patients experiencing refractory facial pain. This method may offer an alternative for individuals requiring infrequent stimulation and can serve as a test or bridging therapy for those who may eventually require permanent SPG stimulation. The noninvasive and nonpermanent nature of the treatment under discussion suggests that it also may be used for exploratory purposes in other craniofacial pain disorders, such as migraine and tension-type headache. The most significant and evident limitation of the study is the small sample size; therefore, the results should be considered preliminary and not generalized. Further studies are required to confirm these findings. Such studies should include RCTs in larger patient populations with longer follow-ups.