Comparison of Occipital Nerve and Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blockade

Ankara University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Migraine

Treatments: Procedure: greater occipital nerve block; Procedure: transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06243874

2023/381

Details and patient eligibility

About

Migraine is a chronic disorder that causes disability. Episodic migraine can be managed by prophylactic medical treatment or interventional pain procedures. Interventional methods used in migraine treatment are greater occipital nerve blockade, lesser occipital nerve blockade, supraorbital nerve blockade, infraorbital nerve blockade, sphenopalatine ganglion blockade, botulinum toxin injection and various radiofrequency applications. The effectiveness of greater occipital nerve blockade and transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion blockade in the treatment of migraine has been proven in various studies.We aimed to evaluate the effects of repetitive greater occipital nerve blockade and transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion blockade in patients with episodic migraine.

Full description

Migraine is a common primary headache and causes a significant personal, social and financial burden. Migraine is characterized by a semi-headache lasting 4-72 hours, accompanied by nausea/vomiting and photophobia/phonophobia. Migraine can be episodic or chronic. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, triptan and ergotamine derivatives can be used in the treatment of acute migraine attacks. Beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, antiepileptic drugs and antidepressant drugs are among the prophylactic medical treatments. When medical treatment cannot provide adequate pain palliation, in case of side effects or when the patient does not prefer medical treatment, interventional methods come to the fore. Interventional methods that applied in migraine treatment are greater occipital nerve blockade, lesser occipital nerve blockade, supraorbital nerve blockade, infraorbital nerve blockade, sphenopalatine ganglion blockade, botulinum toxin injection and various radiofrequency applications. The effectiveness of greater occipital nerve blockade and transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion blockade in the treatment of migraine has been proven in various studies.

It is stated that sphenopalatine ganglion blockade reduces the number of headache days and is effective in the treatment of acute migraine attacks. Although there are studies on the effectiveness of greater occipital nerve blockade and transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion blockade in migraine treatment, there are no studies comparing their superiority over each other. This study aims to evaluate the effects of repetitive greater occipital nerve blockade and transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion blockade on headache severity, number of days with headache, headache duration, functionality and medication use in patients with episodic migraine, and to compare whether they are superior to each other.

In this single center randomised study participants' episodic migraine will be diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd version (ICHD-3) criteria. Demographic information of the patients, including age, gender, comorbidities, educational status, marital status and migraine duration, will be recorded. Pain intensity of patients will be evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scala (NRS 11) scale, and functionality will be evaluated using MIDAS. Before the procedure, the number of headache days in a 1-month period, headache severity, duration, amount of medication use (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic, triptan) and MIDAS score will be recorded. Participants will be randomized into 2 groups. When 21 participants are randomized in each group, participant 26 will be excluded from the list because it is in both groups. Group 1 greater occipital nerve block; It will be applied for participants 37, 27, 35, 13, 36, 18, 34, 33, 6, 12, 3, 25, 19, 1, 14, 9, 21, 38, 10, 2. Group 2 sphenopalatine block; It will be applied to patients 22, 1, 24, 11, 35, 33, 17, 14, 8, 31, 39, 5, 2, 28, 41, 36, 15, 7, 34, 27. Greater occipital nerve block will be applied to participant number 26 by repeating the procedure order since the number of participants in each group is equally divided.

Participants will receive greater occipital nerve blockade and transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion blockade once a week for the first month and then once a week for a further 1 month. At the 1st month, 2nd month and 3rd month follow-up visits of the participants, the number of headache days, average pain intensity and pain duration, MIDAS scores and the amount of medication used (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic, triptan) will be recorded with pain diaries. Participants' pain diaries, MIDAS scores and the amount of medication they use will be recorded. Additionally, possible complications in patients will also be recorded.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged 18-65
• Diagnosing migraine according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd version (ICHD-3) criteria
• Patients diagnosed with episodic migraine
• Failure to provide pain palliation with at least 1 prophylactic medication

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of psychiatric disease that is unstable/not controlled by medical treatment
• Pregnant patients
• Those with bleeding diathesis
• Patients who are allergic to local anesthetics given during the procedure
• Patients with open skull defects who have undergone craniotomy
• Patients with previous nasal/sinus surgery
• Patients with medication overuse headaches
• Presence of causes such as hypertension, vasculitis, malignancy, etc. that may cause headaches
• Patients who have received interventional headache treatment in the last 6 months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

greater occipital nerve block

Active Comparator group

Description:

Following intravenous access and monitoring, participants are placed in the prone position. The medial 1/3 of the line between the protuberance occipital externa and the mastoid process is palpated. The intervention area is cleaned with antiseptic solution. Then, 2 cc of 2% lidocaine is injected into the palpated area after confirming that it is not in the vascular area by negative aspiration. Participants are observed for 30 minutes for possible complications. The participant will receive a block once a week for the first month and then once a month for the next 2 months.

Treatment:

Procedure: greater occipital nerve block

transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block

Other group

Description:

Following intravenous access and monitoring, patients are placed in the supine position. A cotton swab impregnated with 2 cc of 2% lidocaine is advanced from the nostril along the upper edge of the middle turbinate until it reaches the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. The stick impregnated with local anesthetic is kept in the target area for 20 minutes. Participants are observed for 30 minutes for possible complications. The participant will receive a block once a week for the first month and then once a month for the next 2 months.

Treatment:

Procedure: transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block