Peripheral nerve blocks for primary and secondary headache disorders: review of current evidence and a practical approach. [Review]

McGough, S.; Fernandes, L.; Idrovo, L.

Peripheral nerve blocks for primary and secondary headache disorders: review of current evidence and a practical approach. [Review]

All Authors

McGough, S.

Fernandes, L.

Idrovo, L.

LTHT Author

McGough, Sophie
Fernandes, Linford
Idrovo, Luis

LTHT Department

Doctors' Rotation
Neurosciences
Neurology

Publication Date

2026

Item Type

Journal Article
Review

Subject

HEADACHE , NERVE BLOCK

Abstract

Headache is prevalent, disabling, and a frequent neurological referral in the healthcare system. Clinic-based procedures have evolved in recent years to play an important role in headache medicine, with growing evidence on the safety, tolerability and efficacy of peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs). Despite novel headache therapies, PNBs are still widely used in headache services to treat primary and secondary headache disorders, including cluster headache and other trigemino-autonomic cephalalgias, migraine, occipital neuralgia, and other less frequent headache disorders. We aim to provide an update of the current evidence and a practical approach for delivering the most common PNBs used in clinical practice. We aim to describe PNBs indications, contraindications, injection locations and techniques, drug constituents, and potential pitfalls. Copyright ©2026 The Author(s). Published by MRE Press.