Article
Clinical Neurology
Nazila Malekian, Pouya B. Bastani, Shahram Oveisgharan, Ghaemeh Nabaei, Siamak Abdi
Summary: The study found that greater occipital block with a local anesthetic significantly reduces the number of attacks in episodic migraines, but there was no significant difference in efficacy between different injectable drug regimens. Groups with lidocaine as part of the injection showed better results in decreasing headache frequency, while triamcinolone may cause side effects.
Article
Anesthesiology
Shawn M. Love, Benjamin D. Hopkins, Christopher W. Migdal, Nathaniel M. Schuster
Summary: This study assessed the frequency of screening, diagnosis, and treatment of migraine in patients receiving greater occipital nerve blocks in a pain clinic. The results showed that patients evaluated by neurologists were more likely to undergo assessments for photophobia, phonophobia, and nausea, and were more likely to be diagnosed with migraine compared to those evaluated by non-neurologist pain specialists. Most patients diagnosed with migraine received appropriate acute, preventive, and lifestyle treatments. Clinicians should be vigilant for migraine in patients with occipital headache.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Victor Velasquez-Rimachi, Jorge Chachaima-Mar, Elena Cristina Cardenas-Baltazar, Alejandra Loayza-Vidalon, Cristian Moran-Marinos, Kevin Pacheco-Barrios, Margarita Posso, Carlos Alva-Diaz
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of greater occipital nerve block in patients with chronic migraine. Results showed that GONB combined with local anesthetics could reduce headache frequency and intensity, while adding corticosteroids did not provide additional benefits. Adverse event rates were similar, but due to the low quality of evidence, further large-scale studies are needed to confirm the results.
ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Danielle R. Olla, Kortni M. Kemper, Amanda L. Brown, Brian A. Mailey
Summary: The study evaluated a single, vertical midline incision approach for decompression of all six occipital nerves, which allowed for successful identification and decompression of all six nerves.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Federico Castillo-Alvarez, Ignacio Hernando de la Barcena, Maria Eugenia Marzo-Sola
Summary: Peripheral nerve blocks, particularly greater occipital nerve block, have been widely used as a safe and effective treatment for various types of headaches. A systematic review of 13 studies found that greater occipital nerve block is effective in relieving migraine, cluster headache, cervicogenic headache, and post-dural puncture headache. However, further studies are needed to determine its long-term efficacy, optimal dosage, and potential differences between different anesthetics, as well as the role of corticosteroid use.
Article
Surgery
Jeffrey E. Janis, Hassan ElHawary, Anna Schoenbrunner, Ali Salimi, Kathryn Packowski, Kaitlin Kavanagh, Lisa Gfrerer, William G. Austen
Summary: This study compared the efficacy of greater occipital nerve decompression with and without occipital artery resection. The results showed that occipital artery resection group had a significantly greater improvement in migraine symptoms, and the surgery was performed safely.
PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Roemer B. Brandt, Patty G. G. Doesborg, Roy Meilof, Ilse F. de Coo, Eveline Bartels, Michel D. Ferrari, Rolf Fronczek
Summary: This study analyzed the effectiveness and safety of repeated GON-injections in medically intractable chronic cluster headache (MICCH) patients. The results showed that first and repeated GON-injections were well-tolerated and equally effective in MICCH patients as in non-MICCH and ECH patients.
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Refaat Hassan, Viral Gudiwala, Pretty Dawn, Louise Jeynes
Summary: This retrospective study found that greater occipital nerve (GON) blocks are a feasible therapeutic option for medically refractory migraine in children. Six pediatric patients aged 10 to 15 years old received GON block injections and all reported effectiveness in follow-up consultations and a six-week post-intervention questionnaire. Only one patient experienced side effects, and repeat injections were beneficial for all patients.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Latif Saglam, Ozcan Gayretli, Osman Coskun, Aysin Kale
Summary: Headaches are a common neurological symptom that can be burdensome and expensive. The greater occipital nerve (GON) is often targeted for surgeries and blocks to treat certain types of headaches. Understanding the complex anatomy of the GON is crucial for these interventions. This study dissected 41 cadavers to provide detailed anatomical features of the GON, including classification into different types and subtypes, and identification of potential compression points. These findings may significantly improve the success rate of invasive treatments involving the GON.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Nermin Tepe, Oktay Faysal Tertemiz
Summary: In the treatment of medication overuse headache, the efficacy of greater occipital nerve (GON) block alone and GON combined with supraorbital nerve (SON) block were similar, but significant improvements were seen in NRS score, analgesic intake, number of painful days, and pain duration in the GON + SON group.
TURKISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Debashish Chowdhury, Ankit Mundra, Debabrata Datta, Ashish Duggal, Anand Krishnan, Arun Koul
Summary: This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of combination treatment with topiramate and greater occipital nerve block to topiramate monotherapy in adult chronic migraine patients. The results showed that combination treatment was more effective in reducing monthly migraine days and was well tolerated compared to monotherapy.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Kubra Mehel Metin, Sidika Sena Dilek, Yilmaz Karaduman, Azize Serce, Suna Akin Takmaz, Levent Ertugrul Inan
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of greater occipital nerve block (GONB) with lidocaine on sleep characteristics in patients with chronic migraine. Twenty female patients underwent GONB and their sleep quality, insomnia, and symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed before and after the treatment. The results showed that GONB with lidocaine significantly improved sleep quality, reduced migraine headache, and alleviated symptoms of depression and anxiety.
CLINICAL NEUROLOGY AND NEUROSURGERY
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Narayan R. Kissoon, Travis G. O'Brien, Markus A. Bendel, Jason S. Eldrige, Jonathan M. Hagedorn, William D. Mauck, Susan M. Moeschler, Oludare O. Olatoye, Thomas P. Pittelkow, James C. Watson, Matthew J. Pingree
Summary: This study compared the clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided GONBs with landmark-based GONBs. The results showed that ultrasound-guided GONBs provided superior pain reduction at 4 weeks.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Debashish Chowdhury, Apoorva Tomar, Vaibhav Deorari, Ashish Duggal, Anand Krishnan, Arun Koul
Summary: This study found that four-weekly greater occipital nerve blockade with 2% lidocaine for 12 weeks significantly reduced the number of headache and migraine days in patients with chronic migraine, with good tolerability.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mustafa Karaoglan
Summary: This study compared the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy of onabotulinum toxin A and greater occipital nerve block with onabotulinum toxin A monotherapy in adult chronic migraine patients. The results showed that the combination therapy was more effective in reducing pain and improving the quality of life of patients compared to monotherapy with onabotulinum toxin A.
CLINICAL NEUROLOGY AND NEUROSURGERY
(2023)