Nonpulsed (Thermal) percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for treatment of cervicogenic headache

Record ID 32014000493
English
Authors' recommendations: Cervicogenic headache is a type of secondary headache that occurs when pain is referred to the head from nerves in the cervical spine. The cervical spine consists of 7 cervical vertebrae (C1 to C7). Each vertebra has 2 facet joints that allow articulation between each vertebra or, for C1, between C1 and the skull. A spinal nerve exits above each vertebra, and nerves called rami branch off the spinal nerves and innervate some facet joints and other cervical structures. Branches of the third occipital nerve innervate the facet joint between C2 and C3. All structures that are innervated by the nerves supplying C1, C2, or C3 are possible sources of cervicogenic headache. Cervicogenic headache occurs in 3% to 14% of the general population, typically is characterized by unilateral headache preceded by or occurring with neck stiffness and pain on the same side, but may involve bilateral headache and neck symptoms. Diagnosis requires confirming a cervical source of pain by triggering usual pain through physical maneuvers or by disappearance of pain upon nerve block. Treatment begins with conservative approaches (e.g., medications, physical therapy, cervical manipulation, activity modification, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]). If these fail to achieve adequate pain relief, treatment continues with any of numerous invasive strategies, usually beginning with minimally invasive approaches, such as local injections of steroids or anesthetics. Some studies have examined the use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a minimally invasive approach that uses heat produced by radiofrequency (RF) energy to ablate cervical nerve tissue as a means to alleviate pain.
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2014
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: United States
MeSH Terms
  • Catheter Ablation
Contact
Organisation Name: HAYES, Inc.
Contact Address: 157 S. Broad Street, Suite 200, Lansdale, PA 19446, USA. Tel: 215 855 0615; Fax: 215 855 5218
Contact Name: saleinfo@hayesinc.com
Contact Email: saleinfo@hayesinc.com
Copyright: 2014 Winifred S. Hayes, Inc
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