title: Micro-surgical decompression for greater occipital neuralgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical effect of micro-surgical decompression of greater occipital nerve for greater occipital neuralgia (GON).
  
  
  METHODS
  76 patients underwent surgical decompression of the great occipital nerve. A nerve block was tested before operation. The headache rapidly resolved after infiltration of 1% Lidocaine near the tender area of the nerve trunk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  89 procedures were performed for 76 patients. The mean follow up duration was 20 months (range 7-52 months). The headache symptoms of 68 (89.5%) patients were completely resolved, and another 5 (6.6%) patients were significantly relieved without the need for any further medical treatment. Three (3.9%) patients experienced recurrence of the disorder. All patients experienced hypoesthesia of the innervated area of the great occipital nerve. They recovered gradually within 1 to 6 months after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Micro-surgical decompression of the greater occipital nerve is a safe and effective method for greater occipital neuralgia. We believe our findings support the notion that the technique should also be considered as the first-line procedure for GON.
authors: The People's Hospital of Liaoning Province, the 2nd Department of Neurosurgery, Shenyang, China.
authors: Fuyong
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Ma
authors: Jianjun
authors: J
authors: Zou
authors: Yanfeng
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Wang
authors: Haitao
authors: H
authors: Huang
authors: Quancai
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000601:surgery*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome