Clinical Characteristics and Therapeutic Results in a Series of 68 Patients with Occipital Neuralgia

Abstract

Objective: Cranial pain is a condition that has a negative impact on human lives, and occipital neuralgia is among its causes. This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic results of a series of patients with occipital neuralgia.

Design: Prospective registry (observational study).

Settings: Headache outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital.

Subjects: Sixty-eight cases.

Methods: Demographic and nosological characteristics have been analyzed, as well as treatment response of occipital neuralgia. All patients were recruited between January 2008 and January 2018, and the diagnosis of occipital neuralgia was made according to the International Headache Society (International Classification of Headache Disorders) criteria being utilized at the time of diagnosis.

Results: Sixty-eight patients were diagnosed with occipital neuralgia, which corresponded to 1.2% of the total number of patients (5,515) who visited our Headache Unit during the aforementioned period. Fifty-four (79.4%) of them were female. Baseline pain was present in 62 (91.1%) patients, and exacerbations in 42 (61.8%). Latency from onset (range) was 27.7 ± 56.1 (1-360) months.

Conclusions: Occipital neuralgia is an uncommon disorder in the sample explored. The prolonged latency between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis suggests that there should be an increased awareness of this disorder.

Keywords: Anesthetic Blockade; Cranial Pain; Latency to Diagnosis; Occipital Neuralgia.