Therapeutic zygapophyseal joint injections for headaches emanating from the C2-3 joint.
OBJECTIVE
To report our experience using fluoroscopically guided therapeutic intra-articular C2-3 zygapophyseal joint injections in patients with chronic headaches after a whiplash event.


METHODS
Restrospective study (n = 18 patients) with independent clinical review. Each patient experienced persistent daily headache symptoms which failed to improve after at least 3 mo of physical therapy, activity restriction, and the use of oral analgesics. Each patient demonstrated initially a positive response to a diagnostic intra-articular C2-3 joint injection. Data collection and analysis were performed by an independent clinical reviewer. Outcome measures included headache frequency, medication usage, symptom response to medication, and employment status.


RESULTS
Patients' symptom duration before diagnostic injection averaged 34 mo. Follow-up data collection transpired at an average of 19 mo after the final therapeutic injection. In 61% of patients, fewer than three headaches were experienced each week; these headaches were relieved with the use of oral analgesics.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the inherent limitations of this study preclude a definitive statement regarding the efficacy of C2-3 injections, these initial findings suggest that therapeutic intra-articular zygapophyseal joint injections are effective in the treatment of headaches emanating from the C2-3 joint after a whiplash event. Future controlled, prospective studies are necessary to clarify the role of such injections in this challenging patient population.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
C W
CW
Slipman
J S
JS
Lipetz
C T
CT
Plastaras
H B
HB
Jackson
S T
ST
Yang
A M
AM
Meyer
D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006261:Headache / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000150:complications; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D001623:Betamethasone; D008012:Lidocaine