scholarly journals Headache Plus: Trigeminal and Autonomic Features in a Case of Cervicogenic Headache Responsive to Third Occipital Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation: Table 1

Pain Medicine ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Giblin ◽  
Jordan L. Newmark ◽  
Gary J. Brenner ◽  
Brian J. Wainger
2016 ◽  
Vol 7;19 (7;9) ◽  
pp. E1079-E1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayed Emal Wahezi

Background: Headache (HA) is a significant cause of morbidity globally. Despite many available treatment options, HAs that are refractory to conservative management can be challenging to treat. Third occipital nerve (TON) and greater occipital nerve (GON) irritation are potential etiologic agents of primary and cervicogenic HAs that can be targeted using minimally invasive treatment options such as nerve blocks or radiofrequency ablation. However, a substantial number of patients that undergo radiofrequency ablation do not experience pain relief despite a positive diagnostic medial branch block (MBB). Objective: In this study, we investigate the underlying cause for the high rate of false positives associated with MBBs by evaluating injectate spread in cadaveric subjects. Study Design: Cadaveric study. Setting: Academic medical center. Methods: After obtaining exemption status from our Institutional Review Board, TON injections were performed on 5 preserved cadavers, a total of 10 TONs, using anatomic landmarks, partial dissection, and palpation to guide needle placement. Cadaveric dissections were performed to evaluate the location, vertical spread, and grossly observed injectate coating of the TON and GON for each quantity of methylene blue injectate, 0.3 mL and 0.5 mL, administered. Results: The average distance between the TON and GON at their respective foraminal exit points was 1.81 cm. The average vertical spread for 0.3 mL and 0.5 mL of methylene blue injectate was 2.02 + 0.35 cm and 3.26 + 0.48 cm when performing a TON block. When using 0.3 mL injectate, both the TON and GON were simultaneously coated 60% of the time. After increasing the injectate volume to 0.5 mL, both the TON and GON were simultaneously coated 100% of the time. Limitations: The cadaveric design of this study presents limitations when translating cadaveric findings to the clinical setting. Also, the small sample size limits its power and generalizability. Lastly, the potential for researcher bias exists as the investigators were not blinded. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that currently recommended injectate volumes for TON blocks may result in concomitant coating of the GON. Conventional radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of these nerves may not lesion both the TON and GON given its restrictive circumferential lesioning diameter of 5 – 7 mm. As such, interventionalists should consider performing radiofrequency ablation to both the TON and GON after a positive TON block. Key Words: Chronic pain, cervicogenic headache, third occipital nerve, greater occipital nerve, injectate spread, radiofrequency ablation


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 463.2-464
Author(s):  
A. Alawamy ◽  
M. Hassanien ◽  
E. Talaat ◽  
E. Kamel

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis is a common type of autoimmune arthritis characterized by chronic inflammation. Cervical spine is often affected specially in long lasting diseaseObjectives:Evaluate efficacy of Third occipital nerve Radiofrequency under fluoroscopic guidance to treat refractory cervicogenic headache in RA patients.Methods:The current study was revised and approved from the local ethical committee of Faculty of Medicine; Assiut University, then registered in the clinical trials under the number ofNCT03852355. Inclusion criteria included, Patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) (2010) criteria for RA and suffering from upper neck pain and/or headache due to bilateral 3rd occipital nerve involvement, excluding other local cervical spine pathologies was confirmed by MRI and previously failed conservative treatment for at least three months prior to enrollment. Sixty adult patients were randomly assigned to one of the two studied groups Group 1 (RF, n = 30), received bilateral Third occipital nerve Radiofrequency under fluoroscopic guidance or Group 2 (control group, n = 30), received oral prednisolone 10 mg/day. The two groups were then followed-up with neck disability index (NDI), nocturnal neck pain VAS score and headache score every two weeks for three months. Sleep disturbance, sleep disability index were reassessed six months post intervention. Post interventional assessment was done by pain physician who were kept blind to the grouping process.Results:Neck disability index (1ry outcome), Nocturnal pain VAS, and severity of headache showed significant differences during the whole post-interventional study period. The patients in RF group demonstrated significant improvement of pain in comparison to baseline value over the whole six months with p-value < 0.001 as regard to the fore-mentioned three parameters. On the other aspect, the control group patients showed significant improvement in comparison to its baseline value after the 2nd, 12th and 24th weeks only as follows: (0.001,0.003, 0.003 for the NDI) (p values of 0.02,0.01, 0.01 for the nocturnal pain VAS), (0.001 0.009, 0.005 for the headache VAS severity.Conclusion:Radiofrequency of 3rd occipital nerve is effective in treatment of refractory cervicogenic headache in RA.Disclosure of Interests: :None declared


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Odonkor ◽  
Teresa Tang ◽  
David Taftian ◽  
Akhil Chhatre

Introduction. Cervicogenic headache is characterized by unilateral neck or face pain referred from various structures such as the cervical joints and intervertebral disks. A recent study of patients with cervical pain showed significant pain relief after cervical medial branch neurotomy but excluded patients with C1-2 joint pain. It remains unclear whether targeting this joint has potential for symptomatic relief. To address this issue, we present a case report of C1-2 joint ablation with positive outcomes. Case Presentation. A 27-year-old female presented with worsening cervicogenic headache. Her pain was 9/10 by visual analog scale (VAS) and described as cramping and aching. Pain was localized suboccipitally with radiation to her jaw and posterior neck, worse on the right. Associated symptoms included clicking of her temporomandibular joint, neck stiffness, bilateral headaches with periorbital pain, numbness, and tingling. History, physical exam, and diagnostic studies indicated localization to the C1-2 joint with 80% decrease in pain after C1-2 diagnostic blocks. She underwent bilateral intra-articular radiofrequency ablation of the C1-C2 joint. Follow-up at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks showed improved function and pain relief with peak results at 12 weeks. Conclusion. Clinicians may consider C1-C2 joint ablation as a viable long-term treatment option for cervicogenic headaches.


2002 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tansel Terzi ◽  
Bašak Karakurum ◽  
Serap Üçler ◽  
Levent E. İnan ◽  
Cankat Tulunay

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