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We aimed to evaluate whether GON decompression could reduce pain and improve quality of life in patients with occipital neuralgia and chronic headache and neck pain.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>In this retrospective cohort study, selected patients with neck pain and headache referred to a single neurosurgical center were analyzed. Patients (n\u2009=\u200922) with suspected GON neuralgia based on nerve block or clinical criteria were included. All patients presented with occipital pain spreading frontally and to the neck in various degree. Surgical decompression was performed under local anesthesia. Follow-up was made by an assessor not involved in the treatment of the patients, by telephone 2\u20135\u00a0years after the surgical procedure and an interview protocol was used to collect information. The data from the follow-up protocols were then analyzed and reported.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>When analyzing the follow-up protocols, decreased headache\/migraine was reported in 77% and neck pain was reduced in 55% of the patients.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>Decompression of GON(s) may reduce neck pain and headache in selected patients with persistent headache, neck pain, and clinical signs of GON neuralgia. Based on the limitations of the present retrospective study, the results should be considered with caution.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00701-021-04913-0","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,1]],"date-time":"2021-07-01T02:09:51Z","timestamp":1625105391000},"page":"2425-2433","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["Decompression of the greater occipital nerve improves outcome in patients with chronic headache and neck pain \u2014 a retrospective cohort study"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"163","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9159-3475","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anja","family":"Eskilsson","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Eva","family":"Ageberg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hans","family":"Ericson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Niklas","family":"Marklund","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Leif","family":"Anderberg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"4913_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"321","DOI":"10.1007\/s00586-006-0142-8","volume":"16","author":"L Anderberg","year":"2007","unstructured":"Anderberg L, Annertz M, Persson L, Brandt L, Saveland H (2007) Transforaminal steroid injections for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy: a prospective and randomised study. 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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers\u2019 bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Conflict of interest"}}]}}