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

Abstract

Our data show that GON infiltration is a valuable and safe option in the clinical setting to treat patients suffering from cluster headache, especially for the episodic form of the disorder.

The effectiveness of greater occipital nerve blockade in treating acute migraine-related headaches in emergency departments

“…However, the same studies showed not serious but several side effects such as facial edema, sleeping disturbances, and local/neck pain [26][27][28][29]. Similar to our results, many studies and a metaanalysis showed that there is no serious adverse event due to GON blockade.…”

Greater occipital nerve blocks in chronic cluster headache: a prospective open‐label study

“…Amongst the successful injections, 30% rendered patients pain free whereas 43% of them provided partial benefit for a median of 14 days. Moreover, similar outcomes were also obtained after a second treatment, although no data regarding the subgroup of CCH and no data regarding the time interval between the first and second injections were provided .…”

Nerve Block for the Treatment of Headaches and Cranial Neuralgias – A Practical Approach

“…The role of nerve block in the treatment of this headache is that of a transitioning treatment used for a short time until the effects of prophylactic drugs is attained . However, the infiltration of the GON ipsilateral to the pain with a solution of a local anesthetic and corticosteroid may end an attack of cluster headache, as well as a cluster period . The effect of GON and LON blockage in cluster headache patients can also be explained by the convergence of the nociceptive information from trigeminal and upper cervical regions at the second‐order neurons level (the trigeminocervical complex) …”