An interventional study of Third Occipital Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency in Cervicogenic Headache and Third Occipital Nerve, sponsored by Ankara City Hospital Bilkent. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-26.
Sponsored by Ankara City Hospital Bilkent · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache disorder originating from cervical spine structures and is frequently associated with chronic pain, functional limitation, and impaired quality of life. The third occipital nerve, which innervates the C2-3 zygapophyseal joint, plays an important role in the pathophysiology of cervicogenic headache.
Pulsed radiofrequency is a minimally invasive interventional pain management technique that modulates nociceptive transmission without causing permanent neural damage. Although third occipital nerve pulsed radiofrequency is increasingly used in clinical practice, prospective data evaluating its clinical effectiveness and safety remain limited.
The aim of this prospective, single-center study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided third occipital nerve pulsed radiofrequency treatment in patients diagnosed with cervicogenic headache. Pain intensity, headache characteristics, analgesic consumption, and patient-reported outcomes will be assessed before treatment and during follow-up. The results of this study are expected to contribute to clinical evidence supporting interventional treatment strategies for cervicogenic headache.
Cervicogenic headache is a chronic secondary headache disorder arising from cervical spine structures, particularly the C2-3 zygapophyseal joint and its innervating third occipital nerve. This condition is often resistant to conservative therapies and may significantly impair daily functioning and sleep quality.
Pulsed radiofrequency is a neuromodulatory technique that delivers intermittent high-frequency electrical current while maintaining tissue temperatures below neurodestructive thresholds. This approach is believed to reduce pain by altering nociceptive signal transmission and inflammatory processes without causing permanent nerve injury.
This study is designed as a prospective, single-center, open-label, interventional clinical study conducted at the Algology Clinic of Ankara City Hospital Bilkent. Adult patients aged 18 years and older who are diagnosed with cervicogenic headache according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) criteria and who demonstrate a positive response to ultrasound-guided diagnostic third occipital nerve block will be included.
Eligible patients will undergo ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the third occipital nerve at the C2-3 zygapophyseal joint level using standard clinical protocols. Pain intensity will be evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale before the procedure and during follow-up visits at predefined time points. Additional outcome measures will include headache frequency, number of headache days, analgesic medication consumption, impact on daily activities and sleep, and patient-reported global perceived effect.
Follow-up assessments will be conducted at 1, 2, and 3 months after the procedure. All adverse events, complications, and safety-related outcomes associated with diagnostic nerve block and pulsed radiofrequency treatment will be recorded throughout the study period.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate changes in pain intensity following third occipital nerve pulsed radiofrequency treatment. Secondary objectives include assessment of headache-related disability, medication use, patient satisfaction, and safety outcomes. The findings of this study are expected to provide prospective clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of third occipital nerve pulsed radiofrequency treatment in patients with cervicogenic headache.
192 studies on the registry are indexed under Post-Traumatic Headache; 54 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 25 is below the median of 44 across 169 interventional studies indexed under Post-Traumatic Headache.
Browse Post-Traumatic Headache studies →Ankara City Hospital Bilkent is the lead sponsor of 443 studies on the registry; 111 are open to participants now.
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Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants diagnosed with cervicogenic headache who demonstrate a positive response to diagnostic third occipital nerve block will receive ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the third occipital nerve.
Procedure: Third Occipital Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency
Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment applied to the third occipital nerve at the C2-3 zygapophyseal joint level for the management of cervicogenic headache.
Change in pain intensity measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to evaluate changes in headache-related pain following third occipital nerve pulsed radiofrequency treatment.
Time frame: Baseline, and 1, 2, and 3 months after the procedure
Number of headache days per month
The number of days with headache per month will be recorded using patient headache diaries during follow-up.
Time frame: Baseline, and 1, 2, and 3 months after the procedure
Plan to share: No
Start is estimated for Feb 2026; primary completion for May 2026, 3 months later.
Of 89 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Post-Traumatic Headache, half reached primary completion within 11 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 26. This study's planned 3 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 90 studies reached it within 12 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 26.
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