Occipital nerve block prior to occipital nerve stimulation for refractory chronic migraine and chronic cluster headache: myth or prediction?

BACKGROUND: Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) results in beneficial outcomes, with marked pain relief, in otherwise intractable chronic migraine (CM) and chronic cluster headache (CCH). Some studies have reported that a positive response to occipital nerve block (ONB) administered prior to ONS predicts a positive response to ONS. However, other studies concerned with proper patient selection claimed no predictive value for ONB. The aim of this study was to re-evaluate the usefulness and predictive value of ONB prior to ONS.

METHODS: Literature searches on the predictive value of ONB were performed in MEDLINE and PubMed. Patient data were extracted and a pooled analysis was performed.

RESULTS: The literature review revealed 133 patients with CM and seven patients with CCH who received preoperative ONB. To date, a randomized controlled study examining the relationship between ONB and ONS has not been conducted in patients with CM.

CONCLUSIONS: Current literature suggests that ONB does not sufficiently predict ONS responsiveness in patients with refractory CM and CCH; this important issue requires further investigation.