Efficacy of Nerve Blocks for Managing Refractory Posttraumatic Headaches

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pain Management
• Headache Medicine

Background:

• Nerve blocks, including occipital and supraorbital types, are common for migraines and cervicogenic headaches.
• Their use for posttraumatic headaches, especially medication-resistant or severe cases, is less documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of nerve blocks in treating posttraumatic headaches.
• Characterize the efficacy of combined nerve block treatments for refractory posttraumatic headaches.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of patients meeting International Headache Society criteria for posttraumatic headache.
• Inclusion of patients with headaches refractory to conventional treatments.
• Assessment of pain improvement using defined percentage thresholds (minimal, moderate, significant).

Main Results:

• 34 patients with refractory posttraumatic headaches received nerve blocks (occipital, supraorbital).
• Immediate post-injection, 88% average pain improvement was reported, with 75% achieving >=90% relief.
• At 3 and 6 months, average pain improvement remained high (73% and 78% respectively), with significant relief sustained in most patients.

Conclusions:

• Nerve blocks demonstrate preliminary but compelling efficacy for posttraumatic headaches.
• This treatment is a viable option for patients with medication-refractory or severe symptoms.
• Further research is needed as concurrent prophylactic medications were used.