Greater Occipital Nerve Block as an Opioid-Sparing Alternative in Scalp Surgery: A Case Series
Abstract
The greater occipital nerve (GON) is primarily responsible for the sensory innervation of the posterior region of the scalp. GON block has been described as a safe and effective therapeutic option for various types of headaches, including occipital neuralgia, migraine, cervicogenic headache, and cluster headache. Despite its established role in headache management, there is a paucity of evidence in the literature regarding its use in the perioperative setting, particularly in surgeries involving the occipital region of the scalp. In this context, we present a case series of three patients undergoing excision of malignant tumors in the occipital scalp region, followed by reconstruction. GON block was performed following anesthetic induction to evaluate its efficacy in postoperative pain control. The results suggest that this technique may provide effective analgesia while also contributing to reduced opioid consumption.
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Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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