Safety and utility of ultrasound-guided superior cervical ganglion block for headaches and orofacial pain: a retrospective, single-center study of 10 patients

BackgroundSeveral new ultrasound-guided superior cervical ganglia blocks (U-SCGBs) have been proposed to overcome the shortcomings of conventional superior cervical ganglia blocks; however, their clinical utility and practicality have not yet been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and utility of a new method of U-SCGB.MethodsWe retrospectively collected data on patients who underwent U-SCGB for the treatment of headaches and orofacial pain at a single center. U-SCGB was performed by injecting 2-3 mL of 1% mepivacaine posterior to the internal carotid artery, just above the bifurcation. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare pain scores. Numerical data are expressed as the mean +/- standard error.ResultsThe total number of U-SCGB procedures was 43. All procedures were accompanied by Horner's sign. The numerical rating scale score for pain (possible scores, 0-10) was reduced predominantly from 7.0 +/- 0.7 before treatment to 4.5 +/- 0.7 at the follow-up (p = 0.014).ConclusionU-SCGB was considered a clinically useful and accurate treatment for headaches and orofacial pain in this study.