title: Occipital nerve blocks in postconcussive headaches: a retrospective review and report of ten patients.
abstract: Headaches are common following traumatic brain injuries of all severities. Pain generators may be in the head itself or the neck. Headache assessment is discussed. Diagnosis and treatment of cervical headaches syndromes and, in particular, occipital neuralgia are reviewed. Finally, a retrospective study of 10 postconcussive patients with headaches who were treated with greater occipital nerve blocks is presented. Following the injection(s), 80% had a "good" response and 20% had a "partial" response. Occipital nerve block is a useful diagnostic and treatment modality in the setting of postconcussive headaches.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Rehabilitation, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, Tenn 37920, USA. jhecht@tennessee.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hecht
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D009778:Occipital Lobe; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014221:Triamcinolone; D002045:Bupivacaine