Occipital Blocks

Patient Position: Supine.

Indications: Postherpetic neuralgia and headaches secondary to greater occipital neuralgia.

Needle Size: 25-gauge, 88-mm Quincke needle.

Medication/Volume: 1 to 2 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine plus 40 mg of Depo-Medrol (Pharmacia Canada, Inc., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada).

Anatomic Landmarks: The posterior arch of C1 and C2 vertebrae.

Approach and Technique:
The cervical region is prepared and draped using sterile techniques.
Using fluoroscopy, the lateral view identifies the posterior arch of C1
vertebra (the atlas) and a dome shape between C1 and C2 dorsally. The
needle is placed parallel to the x-ray beam and advanced slowly. After
the position of the needle is confirmed by a lateral view, 1 to 2 mL of
water-soluble contrast media such as Isovue-200 (Bracco Diagnostics,
Princeton, NJ) is injected. This injection should not be associated
with any intravascular runoff or epidural or subarachnoid propagation.
The local anesthetic mixture is slowly injected. An anteroposterior
view (Fig. 65-1) is taken and the needle is advanced to the midfacet line between the C1 and C2 vertebrae. Figure 65-2 presents an oblique view.

Patient Position: Sitting, with neck flexed slightly forward.

Indications:
Diagnostic or therapeutic block for the diagnosis and treatment of
occipital headache, occipital neuralgia, pain in the distribution of
the greater and lesser occipital nerves, and postherpetic neuralgia.

Needle Size: 25-gauge, 38-mm needle bent 60° to 90° at the hub.

Medication/Volume: 2 to 3 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine for each block, with or without 20 to 40 mg of a long-acting steroid.

Anatomic Landmarks: (Fig. 65-3A).
The lesser occipital nerve arises from the ventral rami of the third
cervical nerve and innervates the lateral portion of the posterior
scalp and

pinna of the ear. The nerve is blocked in the region of the mastoid process (Fig. 65-3B).
The greater occipital nerve arises from the dorsal rami of the second
cervical nerve and supplies the posterior medial aspect of the scalp to
the vertex of the head. The nerve is blocked at the level of the
superior nuchal ridge (Fig. 65-3C).

Approach and Technique:
After sterile preparation of the region, the needle is introduced
perpendicular to the periosteum and advanced superiorly after making
contact with bone. After negative aspiration, the local anesthetic
mixture is injected in a fan distribution while withdrawing the needle.

Complications: Bleeding, infection, and subarachnoid injection through the foramen magnum.