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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06764433

Greater Occipital Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency in Cervicogenic Headache

The effect of GON PRF treatment applied with USG-guided proximal technique in patients who do not respond to conservative treatments for cervicogenic headache

Completed

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Key information

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Health Sciences University, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital

Ankara, Cankaya, 06800, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

In this study, GON PRF will be applied to paticipants who are diagnosed with cervicogenic headache according to ICHD-3 criteria, who meet the study criteria and who report a positive effect with diagnostic GON block application. The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided C2 level greater occipital nerve pulsed radiofrequency treatment in cervicogenic headache during the follow-up period.Secondary purpose is to determine the effects of the GON PRF treatment applied on the volunteers' analgesic drug consumption, daily life activities and sleep, how they generally perceive this treatment and whether there is a need for any additional treatment.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosed with cervicogenic headache according to ICHD-3 criteria
  • Cranial and cervical spine imaging is available
  • Number of headache days per month 5 and/or more
  • Inadequate benefit from pharmacological treatments or physical therapy methods used
  • Volunteer patients who can understand and approve the treatment and the informed consent form and who can comply with the treatment

Exclusion criteria

  • History of secondary headache other than cervicogenic headache according to ICHD-3 criteria
  • Cervical nerve root irritation and/or spinal stenosis symptoms and signs
  • Sensory deficit findings in the greater occipital nerve dermatome
  • Craniocervical defect or other anatomical abnormality in the target area or nearby the procedure
  • Local or systemic infection
  • Received nonpharmacological treatment within the last 3 months (physical therapy, botulinum toxin A, acupuncture, ozone, cognitive behavioral therapy, etc.)
  • Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy
  • Known allergy to local anesthetic drugs
  • History of malignancy
  • Known organic disease of the brain and spinal cord
  • History of cranial/cervical surgery within the last 1 year
  • Bleeding-clotting disorder or oral anticoagulant use
  • Comorbid disease that may cause headache (uncontrolled hypertension, intracranial lesion, etc.)
  • Compliance with treatment and treatment results diseases that may affect the evaluation (psychiatric disorder, dementia, etc.)
  • Those who request re-treatment due to the emergence of contralateral pain or other types of pain during the follow-up period after treatment
  • Those who do not accept treatment

Treatment and study plan

GONPRF

Procedure

GON PRF treatment, which we apply by imaging the target nerve and surrounding structures with the proximal technique (at C2 level) under USG guidance in patients who do not respond to conservative treatments for cervicogenic headache.

Proximal GONPRF

Procedure

Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the greater occipital nerve at the C2 level

Primary outcomes

  1. Visual Analog Scale

    Time frame: 3 months

    Average headache severity, maximum headache severity, number of headache days (monthly) measured with a visual analog scale (VAS; 10-point VAS scoring, 0 being no pain and 10 being the highest pain intensity that can be tolerated)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of Greater Occipital Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment at C2 Level in Cervicogenic Headache

Acronym: GONPRFCEH

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jan 8, 2025
Registry last updated
Mar 2, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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