Anesth Pain Med.  2014 Jan;9(1):27-30.

Combined third occipital and C3 deep medial branch neurotomy in a patient with C2-3 facet joint osteoarthritis associated cervicogenic headaches: A case report

• Kang SS
• Yi YJ
• Yoon YJ
• Shin KM
• Yoo HS

Abstract

Cervicogenic headache is pain from the head due to various sources in the cervical spine. The C2-3 zygapophysial joints are the most commonly involved structure, and this type of headache could be relieved by blocks or neurotomy of the third occipital nerve. A 59-years-old female patient suffered from cervicogenic headaches due to severe C2-3 zygapophysial joint hypertrophy. Her pain was partially relieved by the third occipital radiofrequency neurotomy, and was almost completely removed by C3 deep medial branch neurotomy. Herein, we report a case of osteoarthritis associated cervicogenic headaches at the C2-3 zygapophysial joints and proposed a treatment option.

Keyword

Cervicogenic headache; Osteoarthritis; Radiofrequency; Zygapophysial joint

MeSH Terms

Female
Head
Headache
Humans
Hypertrophy
Joints
Osteoarthritis*
Post-Traumatic Headache*
Spine
Zygapophyseal Joint*