Greater Occipital Nerve (GON) Block Effectivity in the Treatment of Chronic Migraine: 6 Months Follow up

Placebo-Controlled Randomized Double Blind Trial of Blocking Greater Occipital Nerve Block With Bupivacaine Versus Saline in the Treatment of Chronic Migraine

This study evaluates effectiveness of greater occipital nerve blocks with bupivacaine compared to placebo in chronic migraine patients.

The greater occipital nerve (GON), which derives most of its fibers from the C2 dorsal root, is the primary sensory nerve of the occipital region. The response to GON blockade was not simply dependent on the direct local anesthetic effect of the injection . The mechanism of action might have been via changes in brain nociceptive pathways. Another possible explanation for these findings is, therefore, that GON injections initiated diffuse noxious inhibitory controls, independent of anesthetic effect . Neurophysiological and clinical data suggest there is a functional connection between the sensory occipital segments and the trigeminal nociceptive system in humans.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic migraine headache according to International Headache Society Classification Criteria
• Patients who are not using any prophylacting agent

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients given similar treatments before
• pregnant women
• hereditary diseases causing bleeding
• patients who have intracranial tumor or operation in posterior fossa
• allergic reactions to local anesthetics.