The efficacy of botulinum toxin in patients with cervicogenic headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE Botulinum toxin type-A (BoNTA) has been considered a treatment option for CH. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of BoNTA treatment in patients with medically resistant CH. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty patients with CH were included in the study. Patients in the BoNTA group (n=20) were administered 10 U of BoNTA bilaterally to the frontal muscles, 20 U to the temporal muscles, 15 U to the semispinalis capitis, 15 U to the splenius capitis, and 15 U to the trapezius muscles (total: 150 U). Patients in the placebo group (n=20) received 0.2 mL of saline administrated to the same sites. All participations were evaluated 6 and 12 weeks after treatment; side effects, the number of painful days, severity (by visual analogue scale, VAS) and frequency of pain were evaluated. RESULTS In the BoNTA group, the severity and frequency of pain 6 and 12 weeks post treatment were significantly lower than pre-treatment levels (p<0.05). At 12 weeks post treatment, the severity and frequency of pain in the BoNTA group were lower than in the placebo group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The findings suggest that BoNTA was an effective treatment for CH.