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 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.

Efficacy and safety of 121 injections of the greater occipital nerve in episodic and chronic cluster headache

Cephalalgia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 630-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas R Gantenbein ◽  
Nina J Lutz ◽  
Franz Riederer ◽  
Peter S Sándor
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Chronic Cluster Headache ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Occipital Nerve ◽  
Greater Occipital Nerve

scholarly journals Occipital neuroma triggered cluster headache responding to greater occipital nerve blockade

2008 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Di Stani ◽  
Elcio Juliato Piovesan ◽  
Lorena Scattoni ◽  
Gianluca Bruti ◽  
Lineu Cesar Werneck
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Nerve Blockade ◽  
Occipital Nerve ◽  
Greater Occipital Nerve

Neuromodulatory Approaches to the Management of Medically Refractory Cluster Headache

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Arne May ◽  
Peter J Goadsby ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Chronic Cluster Headache ◽  
Primary Headache Disorders ◽  
Greater Occipital Nerve ◽  
Term Data ◽  
Deep Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

The trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias are a group of primary headache disorders characterised by unilateral trigeminal distribution of pain that occurs in association with ipsilateral cranial autonomic features. The most prominent one is cluster headache, a dreadful disease with excrutiating pain attacks. These attacks last no longer than two hours but may occur several times per day. It is mandatory to find an efficient therapy for these patients, but some are unresponsive to all treatments. In these intractable cases invasive procedures are introduced, but the available evidence (while conflicting) illustrates that trigeminal denervation may not be effective in preventing the headache attacks or autonomic symptoms of chronic cluster headache. Modern neurostimulating approaches, such as stimulation of the greater occipital nerve and hypothalamic deep brain stimulation, supersede neurodestructive procedures. Both stimulation methods are exquisite and potentially lifesaving treatment options in otherwise intractable patients, but they need to be better characterised and further long-term data are needed.

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