title: Clinical efficacy of radiofrequency cervical zygapophyseal neurotomy in patients with chronic cervicogenic headache.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to assess the clinical efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) cervical zygapophyseal joint neurotomy in patients with cervicogenic headache. A total of thirty consecutive patients suffering from chronic cervicogenic headaches for longer than 6 months and showing a pain relief by greater than 50% from diagnostic/prognostic blocks were included in the study. These patients were treated with RF neurotomy of the cervical zygapophyseal joints and were subsequently assessed at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and at 12 months following the treatment. The results of this study showed that RF neurotomy of the cervical zygapophyseal joints significantly reduced the headache severity in 22 patients (73.3%) at 12 months after the treatment. In conclusion, RF cervical zygapophyseal joint neurotomy has shown to provide substantial pain relief in patients with chronic cervicogenic headache when carefully selected.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Korea University Ansan Hospital, 516 Gojan-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Korea.
authors: Jang Bo
authors: JB
authors: Lee
authors: Jung Yul
authors: JY
authors: Park
authors: Juno
authors: J
authors: Park
authors: Dong Jun
authors: DJ
authors: Lim
authors: Sang Dae
authors: SD
authors: Kim
authors: Heung Seob
authors: HS
authors: Chung
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003714:Denervation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D051298:Post-Traumatic Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*