Clinical efficacy of radiofrequency cervical zygapophyseal neurotomy in patients with chronic cervicogenic headache.
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.
Lee
Jang Bo
JB
Department of Neurosurgery, Korea University Ansan Hospital, 516 Gojan-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Korea.
Park
Jung Yul
JY
Park
Juno
J
Lim
Dong Jun
DJ
Kim
Sang Dae
SD
Chung
Heung Seob
HS
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*