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Benzon HT, Elmofty D, Shankar H, Rana M, Chadwick AL, Shah S, Souza D, Nagpal AS, Abdi S, Rafla C, Abd-Elsayed A, Doshi TL, Eckmann MS, Hoang TD, Hunt C, Pino CA, Rivera J, Schneider BJ, Stout A, Stengel A, Mina M, FitzGerald JD, Hirsch JA, Wasan AD, Manchikanti L, Provenzano DA, Narouze S, Cohen SP, Maus TP, Nelson AM, Shanthanna H. Use of corticosteroids for adult chronic pain interventions: sympathetic and peripheral nerve blocks, trigger point injections - guidelines from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society, and the North American Spine Society. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2024:rapm-2024-105593. [PMID: 39019502 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2024-105593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is potential for adverse events from corticosteroid injections, including increase in blood glucose, decrease in bone mineral density and suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Published studies note that doses lower than those commonly injected provide similar benefit. METHODS Development of the practice guideline was approved by the Board of Directors of American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine with several other societies agreeing to participate. The scope of guidelines was agreed on to include safety of the injection technique (landmark-guided, ultrasound or radiology-aided injections); effect of the addition of the corticosteroid on the efficacy of the injectate (local anesthetic or saline); and adverse events related to the injection. Based on preliminary discussions, it was decided to structure the topics into three separate guidelines as follows: (1) sympathetic, peripheral nerve blocks and trigger point injections; (2) joints; and (3) neuraxial, facet, sacroiliac joints and related topics (vaccine and anticoagulants). Experts were assigned topics to perform a comprehensive review of the literature and to draft statements and recommendations, which were refined and voted for consensus (≥75% agreement) using a modified Delphi process. The United States Preventive Services Task Force grading of evidence and strength of recommendation was followed. RESULTS This guideline deals with the use and safety of corticosteroid injections for sympathetic, peripheral nerve blocks and trigger point injections for adult chronic pain conditions. All the statements and recommendations were approved by all participants after four rounds of discussion. The Practice Guidelines Committees and Board of Directors of the participating societies also approved all the statements and recommendations. The safety of some procedures, including stellate blocks, lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks and some sites of trigger point injections, is improved by imaging guidance. The addition of non-particulate corticosteroid to the local anesthetic is beneficial in cluster headaches but not in other types of headaches. Corticosteroid may provide additional benefit in transverse abdominal plane blocks and ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve blocks in postherniorrhaphy pain but there is no evidence for pudendal nerve blocks. There is minimal benefit for the use of corticosteroids in trigger point injections. CONCLUSIONS In this practice guideline, we provided recommendations on the use of corticosteroids in sympathetic blocks, peripheral nerve blocks, and trigger point injections to assist clinicians in making informed decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honorio T Benzon
- Anesthesiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Dalia Elmofty
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Hariharan Shankar
- Anesthesiology, Clement Zablocki VA Medical Center/Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Maunak Rana
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrea L Chadwick
- Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Shalini Shah
- University of California Irvine, Orange, California, USA
| | - Dmitri Souza
- Pain Medicine, Western Reserve Hospital, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
| | - Ameet S Nagpal
- Orthopaedics and PM&R, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Salahadin Abdi
- Pain Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Christian Rafla
- Anesthesiology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | - Alaa Abd-Elsayed
- University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Tina L Doshi
- Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Maxim S Eckmann
- Anesthesiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Thanh D Hoang
- Endocrinology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Carlos A Pino
- Anesthesiology, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Byron J Schneider
- PM&R, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Angela Stengel
- American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Maged Mina
- Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | | | - Joshua A Hirsch
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ajay D Wasan
- University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Samer Narouze
- Anesthesia, Division of Pain Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Steven P Cohen
- Anesthesiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Anesthesiology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Ariana M Nelson
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Aerospace Medicine, Exploration Medical Capability, Johnson Space Center
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Turan SA, Aydın Ş, Gözükara MG, Çabalar M. Ultrasound-Guided Combined Greater Occipital Nerve Block at the C2 Level with Trapezius Trigger Point Injection and Supraorbital-Supratrochlear Nerve Block: More Effective on Allodynia and Disability in Chronic Migraine. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2023; 26:943-951. [PMID: 38229643 PMCID: PMC10789420 DOI: 10.4103/aian.aian_677_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic migraine (CM) patients with cutaneous allodynia (CA) show a poor response to treatment. Long-term studies have yet to be conducted to demonstrate the efficacy of blocks on CA. This study evaluated the improvement in allodynia and disability in CM treated with ultrasound (US)-guided blocks. Methods In this prospective, non-randomized comparative study, 60 CM patients with CA were evaluated for the clinical effectiveness of the therapy using the numeric rating scale (NRS), headache impact test-6 (HIT-6), brush allodynia test, and allodynia symptom checklist (ASC-12). At the first visit, tenderness in the nerve or trapezius muscle was confirmed in the intervention group. US-guided greater occipital nerve block (GONB), GONB, and trapezius muscle injection (TPI), or GONB, TPI, and peripheral trigeminal nerve block (PTNB), respectively, were performed four times once a week for a month. Initial and third-month assessments were performed. Results The ASC-12 scores decreased in the GONB+TPI+PTNB and GONB groups more than the GONB+TPI group (mean rank, respectively, 26.86, 27.40, 38.39; P = 0.018). The decrease in HIT-6 scores was greater in the GONB+TPI+PTNB group than in the GONB group (mean rank, respectively, 21.98, 39.95, P < 0.017) in the first month. In the third month, the GONB+TPI+PTNB group scored HIT-6 significantly lower than GONB and GONB+TPI (mean rank: 18.84, 38.73, 35.61; P < 0.001). Conclusions GONB+TPI+PTNB was more successful in alleviating allodynia and disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suna Aşkın Turan
- Department of Pain, Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital, University of Health Sciences, İstanbul
| | - Şenay Aydın
- Department of Neurology, Yedikule Chest Disease and Surgery Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul
| | - Melih G. Gözükara
- Public Health Department, School of Medicine, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkiye
| | - Murat Çabalar
- Department of Neurology, Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital, University of Health Sciences, İstanbul
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Chowdhury D, Datta D, Mundra A. Role of Greater Occipital Nerve Block in Headache Disorders: A Narrative Review. Neurol India 2021; 69:S228-S256. [PMID: 34003170 DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.315993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Background The proximity of sensory neurons in the upper cervical spinal cord to the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) neurons and the convergence of sensory input to TNC neurons from both cervical and trigeminal fibers underscore the rationale of using greater occipital nerve block (GON-block) for acute and preventive treatment in various headache disorders. Objective The aim of this study was to critically review the existing literature regarding the safety and efficacy of GON-block in various headache disorders. Methods We searched the eligible studies in English by searching in PubMed till December 31, 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, open-label studies, case series, and case reports on the efficacy and the safety of GON-block for the treatment of headache disorders using the keywords "greater occipital nerve block", "headache" and "treatment". Studies using combination of GON-block and other peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) and C2/C3 blocks were excluded. Results Seventy-two eligible studies were reviewed. Based on RCTs and open-label studies, good evidence of the efficacy of GON-block was found for migraine, cluster headache (CH), post-dural puncture headache (PDPH), cervicogenic headache (CGH), and occipital neuralgia (ON). The analgesic effect of GON-block outlasted its anesthetic effect by days to weeks. Evidence for acute and short-term (transitional) treatment was more robust than for long-term prevention. GON-block was found to be safe and the treatment-emergent adverse effects (TEAEs) were generally mild and transient. Conclusion GON-block is a useful modality of treatment in various headache disorders because of many attractive features such as its early effect in reducing the severity of pain, sustained effect following a single injection, easy technique, minimum invasiveness, minimum TEAE, no drug-to-drug interactions, and negligible cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashish Chowdhury
- Department of Neurology, GB Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Debabrata Datta
- Department of Neurology, GB Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Ankit Mundra
- Department of Neurology, GB Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
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Gul HL, Ozon AO, Karadas O, Koc G, Inan LE. The efficacy of greater occipital nerve blockade in chronic migraine: A placebo-controlled study. Acta Neurol Scand 2017; 136:138-144. [PMID: 27910088 DOI: 10.1111/ane.12716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE GON blockade with local anesthetics is an effective treatment for a group of headaches, such as cervicogenic headache, cluster headache, occipital neuralgia, migraine. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of greater occipital nerve (GON) blockade in patients with chronic migraine (CM) by using a control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS We included 44 CM patients and randomly divide the patients into two groups, as group A (bupivacaine) and group B (placebo) to our study. GON blockade was administered four times (once per week) with bupivacaine or saline. After 4 weeks of treatment, patients were followed up for 3 months, and findings were recorded once every month for comparing each month's values with the pretreatment values. The primary endpoint was the difference in the frequency of headache (headache days/month). VAS pain scores were also recorded. RESULTS A total of 44 patients had completed the study; no severe adverse effects had occurred. Group A showed a significant decrease in the frequency of headache and VAS scores at the first, second, and third months of follow-up. Similarly, group B showed a significant decrease in the frequency of headache and VAS scores at the first month of follow-up, but second and third months of follow-up showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that GON blockade with bupivacaine was superior to placebo, has long-lasting effect than placebo, and was found to be effective for the treatment of CM. More studies are needed to better define the safety and cost-effectiveness of GON blockade in CM.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. L. Gul
- Department of Neurology; Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital; Istanbul Turkey
| | - A. O. Ozon
- Department of Neurology; Liv Hospital; Ankara Turkey
| | - O. Karadas
- Department of Neurology; Gulhane Education and Research Hospital; Ankara Turkey
| | - G. Koc
- Gaziler Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital; Ankara Turkey
| | - L. E. Inan
- Department of Neurology; Ankara Education and Research Hospital; Ankara Turkey
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Santos Lasaosa S, Cuadrado Pérez M, Guerrero Peral A, Huerta Villanueva M, Porta-Etessam J, Pozo-Rosich P, Pareja J. Consensus recommendations for anaesthetic peripheral nerve block. NEUROLOGÍA (ENGLISH EDITION) 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nrleng.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
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Santos Lasaosa S, Cuadrado Pérez M, Guerrero Peral A, Huerta Villanueva M, Porta-Etessam J, Pozo-Rosich P, Pareja J. Guía consenso sobre técnicas de infiltración anestésica de nervios pericraneales. Neurologia 2017; 32:316-330. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nrl.2016.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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Cuadrado ML, Aledo-Serrano Á, López-Ruiz P, Gutiérrez-Viedma Á, Fernández C, Orviz A, Arias JA. Greater occipital nerve block for the acute treatment of prolonged or persistent migraine aura. Cephalalgia 2016; 37:812-818. [DOI: 10.1177/0333102416655160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Background Presently, there is no evidence to guide the acute treatment of migraine aura. We aimed to describe the effect of greater occipital nerve (GON) anaesthetic block as a symptomatic treatment for long-lasting (prolonged or persistent) migraine aura. Methods Patients who presented with migraine aura lasting > 2 hours were consecutively recruited during one year at the Headache Unit and the Emergency Department of a tertiary hospital. All patients underwent a bilateral GON block with bupivacaine 0.5%. Patients were followed up for 24 hours. Results A total of 22 auras were treated in 18 patients. Auras consisted of visual ( n = 13), visual and sensory ( n = 4) or sensory symptoms alone ( n = 5). Eleven episodes met diagnostic criteria for persistent aura (>1 week) without infarction. The response was complete without early recurrence in 11 cases (50%), complete with recurrence in < 24 hours in two cases (9.1%), and partial with ≥ 50% improvement in six cases (27.3%). Complete responses without recurrence were more common in cases with prolonged auras lasting < 1 week than in those with persistent auras (72.7% vs. 27.3%; p = 0.033). Conclusions GON block could be an effective symptomatic treatment for prolonged or persistent migraine aura. Randomised controlled trials are still required to confirm these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- María L Cuadrado
- Department of Neurology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Aledo-Serrano
- Department of Neurology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro López-Ruiz
- Department of Neurology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Gutiérrez-Viedma
- Department of Neurology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Fernández
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aida Orviz
- Department of Neurology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Arias
- School of Medicine, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain
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Inan N, Inan LE, Coşkun Ö, Tunç T, Ilhan M. Effectiveness of Greater Occipital Nerve Blocks in Migraine Prophylaxis. Noro Psikiyatr Ars 2016; 53:45-48. [PMID: 28360765 DOI: 10.5152/npa.2015.10003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 12/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Peripheral nerve blocks have been used in primary headache treatment since a long time. In this study, we aimed to examine the efficiency of greater occipital nerve (GON) block in migraine prophylaxis. METHODS Data from migraine without aura patients who had GON block were collected and divided into two groups: Group PGON (n=25), which included patients who were under medical prophylaxis and had GON block, and Group GON (n=53), which included patients who had only GON blocks. Migraine was diagnosed using International Headache Society (IHS) classification. Data of 78 patients were analyzed. Headache attack frequency, headache duration, and severity were compared between and within groups in a 3-month follow-up period. RESULTS The decrease in headache parameters after GON block in both groups was significantly similar. Headache attack frequency decreased from 15.73±7.21 (pretreatment) to 4.52±3.61 (3rd month) in Group GON and from 13.76±8.07 to 3.28±2.15 in Group PGON (p<0.05). Headache duration decreased from 18.51±9.43 to 8.02±5.58 at 3rd month in Group GON and from 15.20±9.16 to 7.20±4.16 in Group PGON (p<0.05). Headache severity decreased from 8.26±1.32 to 5.16±2.64 in Group GON and from 8.08±0.90 to 5.96±1.20 in Group PGON (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in 3rd month after treatment (p>0.05). CONCLUSION This study showed significant decreases in headache parameters in both groups. As GON blocks were performed in patients unresponsive to medical prophylaxis, a decrease in the headache parameters in Group PGON similar to that in Group GON can be attributed to GON blocks. Consequently, these results show that repeated GON blocks with local anesthetic can be an effective alternative treatment in migraine patients who are unresponsive to medical prophylaxis or who do not prefer to use medical prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurten Inan
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Algology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Levent E Inan
- Neurology and Algology, Ministry of Health Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Özlem Coşkun
- Department of Neurology and Algology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Tuğba Tunç
- Department of Neurology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Ilhan
- Department of Public Health, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
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Inan LE, Inan N, Karadaş Ö, Gül HL, Erdemoğlu AK, Türkel Y, Akyol A. Greater occipital nerve blockade for the treatment of chronic migraine: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Acta Neurol Scand 2015; 132:270-7. [PMID: 25765043 DOI: 10.1111/ane.12393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to assess the efficacy of greater occipital nerve (GON) blockade at chronic migraine (CM) treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with CM were randomly divided into two groups of 42. GON blockade was administered four times (once per week) with saline in group A or bupivacaine in group B. After 4 weeks of treatment, blinding was removed; in group A, GON blockade was achieved using bupivacaine, while group B continued to receive bupivacaine, and blockade was administered once per month, then followed for 2 months. Primary endpoint was the difference in number of headache days, duration of headache, and pain scores. RESULTS Seventy-two of 84 patients completed the study. After 1 month of treatment, number of headache days had decreased from 16.9 ± 5.7 to 13.2 ± 6.7 in group A (P = 0.035) and from 18.1 ± 5.3 to 8.8 ± 4.8 in group B (P < 0.001), (P = 0.004, between groups); duration of headache (hour) had decreased from 24.2 ± 13.7 to 21.2 ± 13.4 in group A (P = 0.223) and from 25.9 ± 16.3 to 19.3 ± 11.5 in group B (P < 0.001), (P = 0.767, between groups). VAS score decreased from 8.1 ± 0.9 to 6.7 ± 1.6 in group A (P = 0.002) and from 8.4 ± 1.5 to 5.3 ± 2.1 in group B (P < 0.001), (P = 0.004, between groups). After blinding was removed (in 2nd and 3rd month), group A exhibited similar results like group B in 3rd month. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that GON blockade with bupivacaine was superior to placebo and was found to be effective, safe, and cost-effective for the treatment of CM. According to our knowledge, this is the first randomized, multicentre, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study in the literature in this field of work.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. E. Inan
- Ministery of Health; Neurology Department; Ankara Research and Training Hospital; Ankara TR
| | - N. Inan
- Anesthesiology Algology Department; Gazi University; Ankara TR
| | - Ö. Karadaş
- Ankara Mevki Military Hospital; Ankara TR
| | - H. L. Gül
- Neurology Department; Fatih University Medical Faculty; Istanbul TR
| | | | - Y. Türkel
- Neurology Department; Kırıkkale University; Kırıkkale TR
| | - A. Akyol
- Neurology Department; Adnan Menderes University; Aydın TR
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Voigt CL, Murphy MO. Occipital Nerve Blocks in the Treatment of Headaches: Safety and Efficacy. J Emerg Med 2015; 48:115-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2014.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Basser DS. Chronic pain: A neuroscientific understanding. Med Hypotheses 2012; 78:79-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2011.09.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2011] [Accepted: 09/28/2011] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Abstract
Occipital nerve block has been part of headache medicine for more than half a century, with injection techniques and solutions varying greatly. Most studies have been case series and many show benefit for patients with migraine, cluster headache, and postconcussive headache. A double-blind, controlled trial of cluster headache has demonstrated that injectable steroids with local anesthetics benefit cluster headache patients. A double-blind, controlled trial of nerve blocks in occipital neuralgia, which may have actually been chronic migraine, was positive.
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Young WB, Marmura M, Ashkenazi A, Evans RW. Expert opinion: greater occipital nerve and other anesthetic injections for primary headache disorders. Headache 2009; 48:1122-5. [PMID: 18687084 DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2008.01192.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- William B Young
- Jefferson Headache Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Occipital nerve block (ONB) is a promising treatment for headaches. Its indications, selection criteria, and best techniques are not clear, however. OBJECTIVE To summarize in narrative format what is known about ONBs and what needs to be learned. METHODS MD Consult and Google Scholar were searched using the terms occipital, suboccipital, block, and injection to identify relevant articles that were reviewed. This process was repeated for all additional pertinent articles identified from these articles, and so on, until no additional articles were identified. RESULTS A total of 21 articles were identified. CONCLUSIONS Occipital nerve block is an effective treatment for cervicogenic headache, cluster headache, and occipital neuralgia. While a double blinded randomized placebo controlled clinical trial is lacking, multiple open label studies reported favorable results for migraine. Two other possible uses of ONB worthy of further study are use as a rescue treatment and as an adjunctive treatment for medication overuse headache. ONB may be effective for tension headache, but only under very specific circumstances. ONB is either ineffective or only effective under as yet unstudied circumstances for hemicrania continua and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania. Some practitioners use occipital nerve (ON) tenderness to palpation (TTP) or reproduction of headache pain with ON pressure (RHPONP) as selection criteria for identifying appropriate patients. While only a clinical trial can produce a definitive answer, current evidence suggests that these selection criteria are not necessary for cervicogenic headache or cluster headache. Occipital neuralgia by definition involves TTP of the ONs. Whether RHPONP or ON TTP predicts success in migraine is unclear, and may relate to whether steroids are used. A single blinded randomized controlled trial evaluating local anesthetic with steroids vs local anesthetic alone for transformed migraine reported slightly worse results with steroids, but there are several alternate explanations for this finding other than steroids being counterproductive. The technique of repetitive ONBs deserves further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Tobin
- 21st Century Neurology-Neurology, 2601 North Third Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
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Vargas BB. Chronic migraine: Current pathophysiologic concepts as targets for treatment. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2009; 13:64-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s11916-009-0013-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Ashkenazi A, Levin M. Greater occipital nerve block for migraine and other headaches: Is it useful? Curr Pain Headache Rep 2007; 11:231-5. [PMID: 17504651 DOI: 10.1007/s11916-007-0195-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Peripheral nerve blocks have long been used in headache treatment. The most widely used procedure for this purpose has been greater occipital nerve (GON) block. The rationale for using GON block in headache treatment comes from evidence for convergence of sensory input to trigeminal nucleus caudalis neurons from both cervical and trigeminal fibers. Although there is no standardized procedure for GON blockade, the nerve is usually infiltrated with a local anesthetic (lidocaine, bupivacaine, or both). A corticosteroid is sometimes added. Several studies suggested efficacy of GON block in the treatment of migraine, cluster headache, and chronic daily headache. However, few were controlled and blinded. Despite a favorable clinical experience, little evidence exists for the efficacy of GON block in migraine treatment. Controlled studies are needed to better assess the role of GON block in the treatment of migraine and other headaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avi Ashkenazi
- Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 111 South 11th Street, Gibbon Building, Suite #8130, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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García-Leiva JM, Hidalgo J, Rico-Villademoros F, Moreno V, Calandre EP. Effectiveness of ropivacaine trigger points inactivation in the prophylactic management of patients with severe migraine. PAIN MEDICINE 2007; 8:65-70. [PMID: 17244105 DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2007.00251.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Tenderness and referred pain have been described in migraine and involved in its pathogenesis. The present study was performed to evaluate the prophylactic effectiveness of ropivacaine injections during a 12-week period. INTERVENTIONS A total of 52 patients agreed to participate in the study. Trigger points were explored by manual palpation and injected weekly with 10 mg ropivacaine. The frequencies of migraine attacks were recorded from 4 weeks before the beginning of injections until 4 weeks after the last one, and a Clinical Global Impression improvement scale was completed in the final visit. RESULTS All of the subjects had one or more trigger points, located in temporal and/or suboccipital areas in most of the cases. In nine (17.3%) patients the frequency of attacks was reduced >or=50%, and in 19 (36.5%) cases the reduction was comprised between 11% and 49%. A total of 31 (59.6%) patients reported to be much or very much improved after finishing the injection period. In 11 cases rescue medication intake was reduced >or=50% in comparison with baseline period, and the attacks of severe intensity decreased significantly. Eight (26.6%) out of 30 patients suffering chronic migraine reverted to episodic migraine. Local pain in injection sites was reported by 14 patients, and 13 subjects (25.5%) experienced postinjection soreness. CONCLUSIONS Trigger points inactivation can be an effective palliative measure in the prophylactic management of severe refractory migraine.
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