scholarly journals Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation for Bilateral Greater Occipital Neuralgia

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany Vu ◽  
Akhil Chhatre
Keyword(s):  
Radiofrequency Ablation ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Medical Literature ◽  
Current Medical ◽  
Occipital Neuralgia ◽  
Pulsed Radiofrequency ◽  
Occipital Nerve ◽  
Greater Occipital Nerve ◽  
History Of

This report describes a case of bilateral greater occipital neuralgia treated with cooled radiofrequency ablation. The case is considered in relation to a review of greater occipital neuralgia, continuous thermal and pulsed radiofrequency ablation, and current medical literature on cooled radiofrequency ablation. In this case, a 35-year-old female with a 2.5-year history of chronic suboccipital bilateral headaches, described as constant, burning, and pulsating pain that started at the suboccipital region and radiated into her vertex. She was diagnosed with bilateral greater occipital neuralgia. She underwent cooled radiofrequency ablation of bilateral greater occipital nerves with minimal side effects and 75% pain reduction. Cooled radiofrequency ablation of the greater occipital nerve in challenging cases is an alternative to pulsed and continuous RFA to alleviate pain with less side effects and potential for long-term efficacy.

Occipital Nerve Blocks for Relief of Headaches in Patients With Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts: A Case Series

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 674-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene Kim ◽  
Giovanni Cucchiaro
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Occipital Neuralgia ◽  
Pulsed Radiofrequency ◽  
Nerve Blocks ◽  
Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts ◽  
Occipital Nerve ◽  
History Of

Pediatric patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts commonly present with headaches. We report 7 children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts and occipital headaches who received occipital nerve blocks. Eighty-six percent of patients had a history of at least 1 ventriculoperitoneal shunt revision. Headaches improved in every patient after the block. Two patients (29%) were symptom free 11 and 12 months after the block. Four patients (57%) required repeat occipital nerve blocks. Two underwent pulsed radiofrequency ablation. No complications were noted. When patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts present with headaches, a detailed physical examination is necessary. Persistent occipital headaches with tenderness and radiation in the path of the occipital nerves can be indicative of occipital neuralgia resulting from the shunt having crossed over the path of the greater or lesser occipital nerve. Occipital nerve blocks can help as both diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in these patients.

scholarly journals A Case Report of Pulsed Radiofrequency Plus Suboccipital Injection of the Greater Occipital Nerve: An Easier Target for Treatment of Cluster Headache

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Belgrado ◽  
Andrea Surcinelli ◽  
Gian Luigi Gigli ◽  
Gaia Pellitteri ◽  
Chiara Dalla Torre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Steroid Injection ◽  
Pulsed Radiofrequency ◽  
Occipital Nerve ◽  
Remission Period ◽  
Greater Occipital Nerve ◽  
Duration Of Efficacy ◽  
Few Data ◽  
Term Benefit

Introduction: In cluster headache, the efficacy of suboccipital steroid injection is notable within a few days, although few data are available about the duration of efficacy. A combination treatment, consisting of suboccipital steroid injection plus pulsed radiofrequency, could potentially lead to long-term benefit. Evidence about pulsed radiofrequency of the greater occipital nerve is lacking.Patients and Methods: We retrospectively describe a series of four cluster headache patients treated with suboccipital steroid injection plus pulsed radiofrequency of the greater occipital nerve.Results: All patients achieved a 50% reduction in attack frequency in the 7 days after the first treatment. Moreover, a long pain-free remission period up to 15 months was noted.Conclusion: Suboccipital steroid injection plus pulsed radiofrequency of the greater occipital nerve might have both acute and prophylactic effects in cluster headache. The greater occipital nerve is more accessible to pulsed radiofrequency than other targets.

scholarly journals Could a Simple Nerve Block be Considered as a Treatment Option for Occipital Neuralgia with Both Short-Term and Long-Term Effects?

The Nerve ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-35
Author(s):  
Jeong-Woo Kwun ◽  
Young Jin Kim ◽  
Jin-Shup So
Keyword(s):  
Nerve Block ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Occipital Neuralgia ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Occipital Nerve ◽  
Long Term Treatment ◽  
Greater Occipital Nerve ◽  
Short And Long Term

Objective: The study aims to show both the short- and long-term treatment outcome of occipital nerve block (ONB) patients with occipital neuralgia (ON).Methods: Patients who visited our hospital between 2013 and 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were excluded if the medical records were incomplete, if they had received a cervical operation, if they had a traumatic event prior to the symptom onset, or if the follow-up period was less than 3 months. ONB targeted the greater occipital nerve, the lesser occipital nerve or both. Short term follow-up period was defined as 3 months and long term was defined as 12 months. Injection consisted of a mixture of triamcinolone acetonide, lidocaine, and normal saline. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded and compared before and during the follow-up to period to assess treatment outcome.Results: Clinical charts of 309 candidates were reviewed and 72 patients were excluded, making it 237 patients. VAS scores significantly decreased in both 3-month follow-up (from 7.20±0.94 to 3.48 ±1.66, p<0.05) and after 1 year follow-up (from 7.20±0.94 to 2.71±1.07, p<0.05). Only 8 patients (3.3%) were refractory to ONB and the procedure was found to be relatively safe since only 2 patients (0.8%) showed transient side effects.Conclusion: There are many treatment options for ON. However, from the results of our study, conservative treatment via ONB may have sufficient effect in controlling symptoms of ON in both short and long term.

Greater Occipital Nerve Decompression for Occipital Neuralgia

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. e518-e521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anson Jose ◽  
Shakil Ahmed Nagori ◽  
Probodh K. Chattopadhyay ◽  
Ajoy Roychoudhury
Keyword(s):  
Occipital Neuralgia ◽  
Occipital Nerve ◽  
Nerve Decompression ◽  
Greater Occipital Nerve

scholarly journals CT-guided infiltration of greater occipital nerve for refractory craniofacial pain syndromes other than occipital neuralgia

2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (10) ◽  
pp. 643-648
Author(s):  
A. Ricquart Wandaele ◽  
A. Kastler ◽  
A. Comte ◽  
G. Hadjidekov ◽  
R. Kechidi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occipital Neuralgia ◽  
Ct Guided ◽  
Occipital Nerve ◽  
Pain Syndromes ◽  
Greater Occipital Nerve ◽  
Craniofacial Pain

Treatment of occipital neuralgia by partial posterior rhizotomy at C1–3

1995 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 581-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Dubuisson
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Loss ◽  
Minimal Risk ◽  
Occipital Neuralgia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Occipital Nerve ◽  
Root Entry Zone ◽  
Relieve Pain ◽  
Greater Occipital Nerve ◽  
Upper Cervical ◽  
Postoperative Vertigo

✓ To minimize the sensory loss associated with intradural posterior rhizotomy for medically refractory occipital neuralgia, partial sectioning of the upper cervical posterior rootlets was performed in 11 patients. The ventrolateral aspect of each posterior rootlet from C-1 to the upper portion of C-3 was divided at the root entry zone. In three patients with bilateral neuralgia, the procedure was performed on both sides, for a total of 14 partial rhizotomy procedures in the 11 patients. This resulted in satisfactory preservation of scalp sensation in all cases. Pain within the territory of the greater occipital nerve was consistently reduced or abolished by this procedure. The overall degree of pain relief was rated good or excellent after 10 of the 14 procedures. The other four procedures alleviated pain in the territory of the greater occipital nerve, but the results were marred by persistent periorbital or temporal pain. Two patients subsequently underwent complete C1–3 posterior rhizotomy without further improvement. Although partial posterior rhizotomy at C1–3 did not always relieve pain in the periorbital and temporal regions, this procedure did provide consistent long-term relief of severe occipital pain with minimal risk of postoperative vertigo, scalp anesthesia, or deafferentation syndrome.

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