Pulsed Radiofrequency vs. Steroid Injections for Occipital Neuralgia

Summary

The aim of this study is to determine whether pulsed radiofrequency or steroids are better for occipital neuralgia. Seventy-six patients with ON or migraine with tenderness over the occipital nerve who respond to occipital nerve blocks (hereafter included under the broad category "ON") will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either corticosteroid and local anesthetic injections (n=38) or local anesthetic and PRF of the occipital nerve(s) (n=38) for occipital neuralgia. Both patients and the treating \& evaluating physicians will be blinded. The first follow-up visit will be at 6 weeks. Patients who obtain significant pain relief will remain in the study. Those patients who fail to obtain any benefit will exit the study and be allowed to crossover to the other treatments or receive alternative care. The second follow-up will be at 3 months and the final follow-up will be at 6-months post-procedure.

Timeline

Start

2012-08

Primary completion

2015-02

Completion

2015-02

Publications

• Background Huang JH, Galvagno SM Jr, Hameed M, Wilkinson I, Erdek MA, Patel A, Buckenmaier C 3rd, Rosenberg J, Cohen SP. Occipital nerve pulsed radiofrequency treatment: a multi-center study evaluating predictors of outcome. Pain Med. 2012 Apr;13(4):489-97. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2012.01348.x. Epub 2012 Mar 5.
• Background Vanelderen P, Rouwette T, De Vooght P, Puylaert M, Heylen R, Vissers K, Van Zundert J. Pulsed radiofrequency for the treatment of occipital neuralgia: a prospective study with 6 months of follow-up. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2010 Mar-Apr;35(2):148-51. doi: 10.1097/aap.0b013e3181d24713.
• Background Choi HJ, Oh IH, Choi SK, Lim YJ. Clinical outcomes of pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation for the treatment of occipital neuralgia. J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2012 May;51(5):281-5. doi: 10.3340/jkns.2012.51.5.281. Epub 2012 May 31.
• Cohen SP, Peterlin BL, Fulton L, Neely ET, Kurihara C, Gupta A, Mali J, Fu DC, Jacobs MB, Plunkett AR, Verdun AJ, Stojanovic MP, Hanling S, Constantinescu O, White RL, McLean BC, Pasquina PF, Zhao Z. Randomized, double-blind, comparative-effectiveness study comparing pulsed radiofrequency to steroid injections for occipital neuralgia or migraine with occipital nerve tenderness. Pain. 2015 Dec;156(12):2585-2594. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000373.

Drugs

Indications