title: Response of cervicogenic headaches and occipital neuralgia to radiofrequency ablation of the C2 dorsal root ganglion and/or third occipital nerve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article investigates the degree and duration of pain relief from cervicogenic headaches or occipital neuralgia following treatment with radiofrequency ablation of the C2 dorsal root ganglion and/or third occipital nerves. It also addresses the procedure's complication rate and patient's willingness to repeat the procedure if severe symptoms recur.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a single-center retrospective observational study of 40 patients with refractory cervicogenic headaches and or occipital neuralgia. Patients were all referred by a headache specialty clinic for evaluation for radiofrequency ablation of the C2 dorsal root ganglion and/or third occipital nerves. After treatment, patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months to a year. Patient demographics and the results of radiofrequency ablation were recorded on the same day, after 3-4 days, and at 6 months to 1 year following treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five percent of patients reported 100% pain relief and 70% reported 80% or greater pain relief. The mean duration of improvement is 22.35 weeks. Complication rate was 12-13%. 92.5% of patients reported they would undergo the procedure again if severe symptoms returned.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiofrequency ablation of the C2 dorsal root ganglion and/or third occipital nerve can provide many months of greater than 50% pain relief in the vast majority of recipients with an expected length of symptom improvement of 5-6 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wheaton Franciscan Franklin Hospital, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hamer
authors.forename: Traci A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Purath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000601:surgery*; D051298:Post-Traumatic Headache / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: C2 dorsal root ganglion; cervicogenic headache; occipital neuralgia; radiofrequency ablation; third occipital nerve