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Role of anesthesiologic blockade in headache management

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Abstract

Local anesthetic blocks have been used in a variety of ways in the management of headache. Some practitioners use blocks of the supraorbital and greater occipital nerves as a form of treatment. Although the effect of each block is limited in duration, a series of injections appears to provide sustained relief. However, no controlled studies have vindicated blocks as a tenable intervention. On the other hand, blocks can be used to diagnose cervical sources of headaches. When performed under controlled conditions, such blocks can identify cervical sources of pain in a substantial proportion of patients with headache after whiplash. Positive blocks also predict good outcome from radiofrequency neurotomy of the nerve blocked.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Research, Royal Newcastle Hospital, Pacific Street, 2300, Newcastle, NSW, Australia

    Nikolai Bogduk MD

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  1. Nikolai Bogduk MD
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Bogduk, N. Role of anesthesiologic blockade in headache management. Current Science Inc 8, 399–403 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-996-0014-2

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