HeadacheGONPRFCEHNCT06764433
Greater Occipital Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency in Cervicogenic Headache
A study testing GONPRF and Proximal GONPRF in people with Headache and Cervicogenic Headache, run by Ankara City Hospital Bilkent at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The effect of GON PRF treatment applied with USG-guided proximal technique in patients who do not respond to conservative treatments for cervicogenic headache Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Headache, Cervicogenic Headache, Occipital Nerve Block
- What is being tested?
- GONPRF and Proximal GONPRF
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 25 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2023to 1 Dec 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosed with cervicogenic headache according to ICHD-3 criteria
- Cranial and cervical spine imaging is available
- Number of headache days per month 5 and/or more
- Inadequate benefit from pharmacological treatments or physical therapy methods used
- Volunteer patients who can understand and approve the treatment and the informed consent form and who can comply with the treatment
Who cannot join
- History of secondary headache other than cervicogenic headache according to ICHD-3 criteria
- Cervical nerve root irritation and/or spinal stenosis symptoms and signs
- Sensory deficit findings in the greater occipital nerve dermatome
- Craniocervical defect or other anatomical abnormality in the target area or nearby the procedure
- Local or systemic infection
- Received nonpharmacological treatment within the last 3 months (physical therapy, botulinum toxin A, acupuncture, ozone, cognitive behavioral therapy, etc.)
Show all 16Show fewer
- Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy
- Known allergy to local anesthetic drugs
- History of malignancy
- Known organic disease of the brain and spinal cord
- History of cranial/cervical surgery within the last 1 year
- Bleeding-clotting disorder or oral anticoagulant use
- Comorbid disease that may cause headache (uncontrolled hypertension, intracranial lesion, etc.)
- Compliance with treatment and treatment results diseases that may affect the evaluation (psychiatric disorder, dementia, etc.)
- Those who request re-treatment due to the emergence of contralateral pain or other types of pain during the follow-up period after treatment
- Those who do not accept treatment
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Health Sciences University, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital
Ankara, Cankaya, 06800
About this study
Official title: Efficacy of Greater Occipital Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment at C2 Level in Cervicogenic Headache
The effect of GON PRF treatment applied with USG-guided proximal technique in patients who do not respond to conservative treatments for cervicogenic headache
Read the detailed description
In this study, GON PRF will be applied to paticipants who are diagnosed with cervicogenic headache according to ICHD-3 criteria, who meet the study criteria and who report a positive effect with diagnostic GON block application. The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided C2 level greater occipital nerve pulsed radiofrequency treatment in cervicogenic headache during the follow-up period.Secondary purpose is to determine the effects of the GON PRF treatment applied on the volunteers' analgesic drug consumption, daily life activities and sleep, how they generally perceive this treatment and whether there is a need for any additional treatment.
- Being tested
- GONPRF, Proximal GONPRF
- Keywords
- Cervical pain, Visual Analog Scale, headache, interventional, pulsed radiofrequency treatment, secondary headache disorders, spinal nerves
- Medical subject headings
- Headache, Post-Traumatic Headache, Neck Pain, Headache Disorders, Secondary
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
GONPRFProcedure or surgery
GON PRF treatment, which we apply by imaging the target nerve and surrounding structures with the proximal technique (at C2 level) under USG guidance in patients who do not respond to conservative treatments for cervicogenic headache.
Proximal GONPRFProcedure or surgery
Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the greater occipital nerve at the C2 level
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical data of the patients before and after treatment will be compared | Other | According to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD)-III diagnostic criteria, patients diagnosed with cervicogenic headache will undergo a proximal technique C2 level greater occipital nerve (GON) diagnostic block under ultrasound (USG) guidance, and patients with a positive response (≥50% reduction in pain or positive effect) will receive GON-PRF treatment with the same technique.
This study mainly aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of GON PRF treatment applied at the C2 level under USG guidance in cervicogenic headache during the follow-up period.
Our secondary aim is to determine the effects of the GON PRF treatment we applied on the analgesic drug consumption, daily life activities and sleep of the volunteers, how they generally perceive this treatment and whether there is a need for any additional treatment. Receives: Procedure: GONPRF; Procedure: Proximal GONPRF |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Visual Analog Scale
Average headache severity, maximum headache severity, number of headache days (monthly) measured with a visual analog scale (VAS; 10-point VAS scoring, 0 being no pain and 10 being the highest pain intensity that can be tolerated)
Measured: 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Jan 2025
- Study start1 Mar 2023
- Primary completion1 Jan 2024
- Study completion1 Dec 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for HeadacheStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ankara City Hospital BilkentThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Single-center, prospective, comparative, observational study
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 25 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ankara City Hospital Bilkent
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ülkü Sabuncu, Ankara City Hospital Bilkent
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06764433
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- E1-23-3686
- Other IDs
- turkısh health ministry
- Acronym
- GONPRFCEH
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Jan 2025
- Last updated
- 2 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: I dont want to.
Publications
Gabrhelik T, Michalek P, Adamus M. Pulsed radiofrequency therapy versus greater occipital nerve block in the management of refractory cervicogenic headache - a pilot study. Prague Med Rep. 2011;112(4):279-87.
PubMed 22142523
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Efficacy of Greater Occipital Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment at C2 Level in Cervicogenic Headache
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06764433
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- GONPRFCEH / E1-23-3686
- Keywords
- Cervical pain, Visual Analog Scale, headache, interventional, pulsed radiofrequency treatment, secondary headache disorders, spinal nerves
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 25 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ankara City Hospital BilkentUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jan 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 8 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The effect of GON PRF treatment applied with USG-guided proximal technique in patients who do not respond to conservative treatments for cervicogenic headache
Detailed description
In this study, GON PRF will be applied to paticipants who are diagnosed with cervicogenic headache according to ICHD-3 criteria, who meet the study criteria and who report a positive effect with diagnostic GON block application. The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided C2 level greater occipital nerve pulsed radiofrequency treatment in cervicogenic headache during the follow-up period.Secondary purpose is to determine the effects of the GON PRF treatment applied on the volunteers' analgesic drug consumption, daily life activities and sleep, how they generally perceive this treatment and whether there is a need for any additional treatment.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Single-center, prospective, comparative, observational study
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical data of the patients before and after treatment will be compared | Other | Procedure: GONPRF, Procedure: Proximal GONPRFAccording to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD)-III diagnostic criteria, patients diagnosed with cervicogenic headache will undergo a proximal technique C2 level greater occipital nerve (GON) diagnostic block under ultrasound (USG) guidance, and patients with a positive response (≥50% reduction in pain or positive effect) will receive GON-PRF treatment with the same technique. This study mainly aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of GON PRF treatment applied at the C2 level under USG guidance in cervicogenic headache during the follow-up period. Our secondary aim is to determine the effects of the GON PRF treatment we applied on the analgesic drug consumption, daily life activities and sleep of the volunteers, how they generally perceive this treatment and whether there is a need for any additional treatment. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Diagnosed with cervicogenic headache according to ICHD-3 criteria
- Cranial and cervical spine imaging is available
- Number of headache days per month 5 and/or more
- Inadequate benefit from pharmacological treatments or physical therapy methods used
- Volunteer patients who can understand and approve the treatment and the informed consent form and who can comply with the treatment
Key exclusion criteria (16 listed)
- History of secondary headache other than cervicogenic headache according to ICHD-3 criteria
- Cervical nerve root irritation and/or spinal stenosis symptoms and signs
- Sensory deficit findings in the greater occipital nerve dermatome
- Craniocervical defect or other anatomical abnormality in the target area or nearby the procedure
- Local or systemic infection
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| GONPRFGON PRF treatment, which we apply by imaging the target nerve and surrounding structures with the proximal technique (at C2 level) under USG guidance in patients who do not respond to conservative treatments for cervicogenic headache. | Procedure or surgery | Clinical data of the patients before and after treatment will be compared |
| Proximal GONPRFUltrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the greater occipital nerve at the C2 level | Procedure or surgery | Clinical data of the patients before and after treatment will be compared |
Primary outcome
Visual Analog Scale
Time frame: 3 months
Average headache severity, maximum headache severity, number of headache days (monthly) measured with a visual analog scale (VAS; 10-point VAS scoring, 0 being no pain and 10 being the highest pain intensity that can be tolerated)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Mar 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 22142523Gabrhelik T, Michalek P, Adamus M. Pulsed radiofrequency therapy versus greater occipital nerve block in the management of refractory cervicogenic headache - a pilot study. Prague Med Rep. 2011;112(4):279-87.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. I dont want to.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing GONPRF and Proximal GONPRF in people with Headache and Cervicogenic Headache, run by Ankara City Hospital Bilkent at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 16 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Visual Analog Scale (time frame: 3 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06764433, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Mar 2026.