J Korean Pain Soc.  2004 Jun;17(1):63-65. 10.3344/jkps.2004.17.1.63.

Application of Pulsed Radiofrequency for 3rd Occipital Neuralgia: A case report

• Park CH
• Jeon EY
• Chung JY
• Kim BI
• Roh WS
• Cho SK

• KMID: 2104829
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/jkps.2004.17.1.63

Abstract

Third occipital neuralgia is a rare disease that is characterized by a severe occipital headache due to osteoarthritis of the C2-3 zygapophysial joint or whiplash injury. The pain usually radiates into a frontal site. Third occipital nerve pulsed radiofrequency thermocoagulation was performed in a 68-year-old female patient suffering from a neuralgic pain in the occipital area. Pulsed RF was chosen as the appropriate treatment due to repetitive pain. PRF electrodes were placed in three different locations on the upper, middle, and lower third of the superior articular process of C3. Thermocoagulation was performed for 120 sec at 42 degrees C at each site and enforced twice at each site. At long term follow up, 12 months after PRF, she was completely pain free.

Keyword

pulsed radiofrequency thermocoagulation; third occipital neuralgia

MeSH Terms

Aged
Electrocoagulation
Electrodes
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Headache
Humans
Joints
Neuralgia*
Osteoarthritis
Rare Diseases
Whiplash Injuries