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Cutaneous Atrophy and Alopecia After Greater Occipital Nerve Injection Using Triamcinolone
Author(s) -
Lambru Giorgio,
Lagrata Susie,
Matharu Manjit S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2012.02270.x
Subject(s) - triamcinolone acetonide , medicine , lidocaine , atrophy , cluster headache , methylprednisolone , placebo , corticosteroid , betamethasone , dermatology , anesthesia , surgery , pathology , alternative medicine , migraine
Greater occipital nerve (GON) infiltration is widely used for the treatment of primary and secondary headache disorders mainly on the basis of open‐label evidence, although recent double‐blinded placebo‐controlled trials have demonstrated its efficacy in cluster headache. The procedure is generally well tolerated although corticosteroid‐related side effects, including Cushing's syndrome and local cutaneous changes, can occur. We report the occurrence of cutaneous atrophy and alopecia in 4 patients who underwent GON blockade with triamcinolone and lidocaine. Triamcinolone injection is associated with cutaneous atrophy, especially in superficial injection sites; therefore, alternative steroid preparations like methylprednisolone and betamethasone might be more appropriate for GON blockade.