October 2019
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the efficacy of greater occipital nerve block in treating chronic migraine headaches.
Why this matters
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the efficacy of greater occipital nerve block in treating chronic migraine headaches. This work contributes to evidence-based plastic and reconstructive surgery — helping clinicians interpret outcomes, refine technique, and counsel patients with clearer data.
Author
Plastic and reconstructive surgery resident at Emory University (UCLA BS, USC MD) with an h-index of 21 and peer-reviewed work spanning aesthetic surgery, reconstruction, medical devices, and AI in medicine.
Abstract
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the efficacy of greater occipital nerve block in treating chronic migraine headaches. A total of 417 patients across nine studies were analyzed. The intervention significantly reduced the frequency of migraines, with a pooled mean difference of -3.6 headache days per month (95% CI, -1.39 to -5.81 days, p < 0.00001) compared to controls. In addition, the intervention resulted in a significant decrease in headache severity, with a pooled mean difference of -2.2 in pain scores (95% CI, -1.56 to -2.84, p < 0.0121). The findings suggest that greater occipital nerve block should be recommended for migraine patients, especially those who may require surgical intervention.