Abstract
Nerve decompression is an emerging surgical treatment option for patients with occipital
neuralgia. However, limited research is available on the efficacy of this treatment
in South Korea. This retrospective study evaluates the efficacy of nerve decompression
surgery in patients with chronic migraines, specifically focusing on occipital neuralgia,
in South Korea. Between January 2019 and December 2022, six patients diagnosed with
occipital neuralgia, who had not responded to conservative treatments, underwent nerve
decompression surgery. This procedure, performed under local anesthesia, involved
decompression of the greater and/or lesser occipital nerves. Patient data were analyzed
for headache frequency and intensity (using the Numeric Rating Scale [NRS]) and the
decrease in oral medications needed postsurgery. Results showed significant improvement
in headache symptoms postsurgery, with the average preoperative NRS score of 7.9 dropping
to 3.7 postoperatively. Additionally, the average number of medications used decreased
from 3.2 to 1.3. No significant surgical complications were reported. The study highlights
the potential of nerve decompression as an effective treatment for occipital neuralgia,
particularly in cases resistant to traditional medical management.
Keywords
migraine surgery - nerve decompression - occipital neuralgia
