Abstract | BACKGROUND: Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) results in beneficial outcomes, with marked pain relief, in otherwise intractable chronic migraine (CM) and chronic cluster headache (CCH). Some studies have reported that a positive response to occipital nerve block (ONB) administered prior to ONS predicts a positive response to ONS. However, other studies concerned with proper patient selection claimed no predictive value for ONB. The aim of this study was to re-evaluate the usefulness and predictive value of ONB prior to ONS. METHODS: Literature searches on the predictive value of ONB were performed in MEDLINE and PubMed. Patient data were extracted and a pooled analysis was performed. RESULTS: The literature review revealed 133 patients with CM and seven patients with CCH who received preoperative ONB. To date, a randomized controlled study examining the relationship between ONB and ONS has not been conducted in patients with CM. CONCLUSIONS: Current literature suggests that ONB does not sufficiently predict ONS responsiveness in patients with refractory CM and CCH; this important issue requires further investigation.
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Authors | Thomas M Kinfe, Patrick Schuss, Hartmut Vatter |
Journal | Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache
(Cephalalgia)
Vol. 35
Issue 4
Pg. 359-62
(Apr 2015)
ISSN: 1468-2982 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 24989870
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
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Copyright | © International Headache Society 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav. |
Topics |
- Cluster Headache
(therapy)
- Humans
- Migraine Disorders
(therapy)
- Nerve Block
(methods)
- Peripheral Nerves
(physiology)
- Skull
(innervation)
- Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
(methods)
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