Effectiveness of Pulsed Radiofrequency of the Greater Occipital Nerve in Cervical Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Retrospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND

Cervical myofascial pain syndrome (CMPS) is a common cause of neck pain and disability, often refractory to conservative management. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) of the greater occipital nerve (GON) has emerged as a minimally invasive neuromodulatory treatment for chronic cervicogenic pain.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided PRF of the GON in patients with cervical myofascial pain refractory to conventional therapy.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted, including 14 patients diagnosed with cervical MPS treated with PRF of the GON at the Hospital Universitario de Jerez de la Frontera. Pain intensity, assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), was evaluated before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon and correlation analyses.

RESULTS

Mean pain scores significantly decreased from 7.93 (SD = 1.77) to 4.57 (SD = 2.38) postintervention (mean difference = 3.36, p = 0.00375). This reduction exceeded the minimal clinically important difference of three points on the VAS. No significant associations were found between demographic variables and treatment response. No major adverse effects were reported.

CONCLUSION

PRF of the GON appears to be an effective and safe therapeutic option for patients with refractory cervical CMPS, resulting in a significant pain reduction. Further prospective studies with larger samples are warranted.