https://doi.org/10.4081/cc.2024.15770
Efficacy and safety of greater occipital nerve block with a small volume of lidocaine and methylprednisolone in tertiary headache center
Submitted: 14 May 2024
Accepted: 13 June 2024
Published: 9 July 2024
Accepted: 13 June 2024
Abstract Views: 2653
PDF: 276
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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Background: The greater occipital nerve block (GON-B) is used in clinical practice for treating different forms of headache. There is no standardized procedure to perform GON-B. This study evaluates the efficacy and feasibility of a low-volume GON-B protocol utilizing a pre-mixed solution of lidocaine (10 mg) and methylprednisolone (40 mg) across various headache disorders.
Methods: This observational case series included patients receiving their first GON-B from November 2019 to February 2021. Participants were diagnosed with migraine, cluster headache, cervicogenic headache, or paroxysmal hemicrania. The primary outcome was the degree of response to the GON-B.
Results: Thirty-nine patients with migraine underwent a first GON-B. Regarding headache frequency, 26% achieved substantial response and 33% partial response. For headache intensity, 26% reported substantial and 49% partial improvement. Migraine patients experienced a significant reduction in median monthly headache days from 25 to 13 (p=0.001) and in headache intensity from a median of 8 to 6 on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scale (p<0.001). Of the 27 patients receiving a second GON-B, 33% had a substantial response, 48% a partial response, and 19% no response. Results from subsequent sessions were consistent with these findings. Ten patients with cluster headache underwent GON-B, showing a significant reduction in pain intensity from a median NRS score of 10 to 5 (p=0.008). Two patients with cervicogenic headache showed a partial response to GON-B, with pain intensity decreasing from 8 to 6 and 8 to 7 over 30 monthly episodes. A patient with paroxysmal hemicrania received seven GON-B injections, reducing daily attacks from 30 to 10 and pain intensity from 7 to 6 on the NRS scale.
Conclusions: These outcomes affirm GON-B potential in interrupting pain pathways, even at a low dose, in a wide range of headache disorders.
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How to Cite
1.
Rosignoli C, Onofri A, De Santis F, Sacco S, Ornello R. Efficacy and safety of greater occipital nerve block with a small volume of lidocaine and methylprednisolone in tertiary headache center. Confinia Cephalal [Internet]. 2024 Jul. 9 [cited 2025 Mar. 27];34(2). Available from: https://www.confiniacephalalgica.com/site/article/view/15770
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