Revisiting the Role of Occipital Artery Resection in Greater Occipital Nerve Decompression

BACKGROUNDGreater occipital nerve surgery has been shown to improve headaches caused by nerve compression. There is a paucity of data, however, specifically regarding the efficacy of concomitant occipital artery resection. To that end, the goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of greater occipital nerve decompression with and without occipital artery resection. METHODSThis multicenter retrospective cohort study consisted of two groups: an occipital artery resection group (artery identified and resected) and a control group (no occipital artery resection). Preoperative, 3-month, and 12-month migraine frequency, duration, intensity, Migraine Headache Index score, and complications were extracted and analyzed. RESULTSA total of 94 patients underwent greater occipital nerve decompression and met all inclusion criteria, with 78 in the occipital artery resection group and 16 in the control group. The groups did not differ in any of the demographic factors or preoperative migraine frequency, duration, intensity, or Migraine Headache Index score. Postoperatively, both groups demonstrated a significant decrease in migraine frequency, duration, intensity, and Migraine Headache Index score. The decrease in Migraine Headache Index score was significantly greater among the occipital artery resection group than the control group ( p = 0.019). Patients in both groups had no major complications and a very low rate of minor complications. CONCLUSIONOccipital artery resection during greater occipital nerve decompression is safe and improves outcomes; therefore, it should be performed routinely. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCETherapeutic, III.