title: Occipital Nerve Blocks for Pediatric Posttraumatic Headache: A Case Series.
abstract: Posttraumatic headache is one of the most common and disabling symptoms after traumatic brain injury. However, evidence for treating posttraumatic headache is sparse, especially in the pediatric literature. This retrospective chart review evaluated the use of occipital nerve blocks in adolescents treated for posttraumatic headache following mild traumatic brain injury, presenting to the Complex Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury clinic. Fifteen patients (mean age 15.47; range: 13-17) received occipital nerve block for posttraumatic headache. Follow-up was obtained in 14 patients at 5.57 (standard deviation = 3.52) months postinjury. The headache burden was high, with all except one having headaches 15 or more days per month (median 30, range 10-30). Sixty-four percent reported long-term response to the occipital nerve blocks, with associated improved quality of life and decreased postconcussion symptom scores (P < .05). One patient reported transient allopecia. Occipital nerve blocks are well tolerated and can be helpful in posttraumatic headache.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada tadam.sgr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Trevor A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Seeger
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.affiliation: Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bodell
authors.affiliation: Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Lisette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lockyer
authors.affiliation: Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Thilinie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rajapakse
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Barlow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D009778:Occipital Lobe; D010372:Pediatrics; D051298:Post-Traumatic Headache / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: occipital nerve block; postconcussion syndrome; posttraumatic headache