Role of anesthesiologic blockade in headache management.
Local anesthetic blocks have been used in a variety of ways in the management of headache. Some practitioners use blocks of the supraorbital and greater occipital nerves as a form of treatment. Although the effect of each block is limited in duration, a series of injections appears to provide sustained relief. However, no controlled studies have vindicated blocks as a tenable intervention. On the other hand, blocks can be used to diagnose cervical sources of headaches. When performed under controlled conditions, such blocks can identify cervical sources of pain in a substantial proportion of patients with headache after whiplash. Positive blocks also predict good outcome from radiofrequency neurotomy of the nerve blocked.
Bogduk
Nikolai
N
Department of Clinical Research, Royal Newcastle Hospital, Pacific Street, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia. mgillam@mail.newcastle.edu.au
D000777:Anesthetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006261:Headache / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*
D000777:Anesthetics