Guidelines
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Mar 26, 2021; 9(9): 2027-2036
Published online Mar 26, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i9.2027
Expert panel’s guideline on cervicogenic headache: The Chinese Association for the Study of Pain recommendation
Hong Xiao, Bao-Gan Peng, Ke Ma, Dong Huang, Xian-Guo Liu, Yan Lv, Qing Liu, Li-Juan Lu, Jin-Feng Liu, Yi-Mei Li, Tao Song, Wei Tao, Wen Shen, Xiao-Qiu Yang, Lin Wang, Xiao-Mei Zhang, Zhi-Gang Zhuang, Hui Liu, Yan-Qing Liu
Hong Xiao, Hui Liu, Department of Algology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Bao-Gan Peng, Department of Orthopedics, The Third Medical Center, General Hospital of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China
Ke Ma, Department of Algology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
Dong Huang, Department of Algology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
Xian-Guo Liu, Department of Physiology and Pain Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China
Yan Lv, Department of Algology, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi Province, China
Qing Liu, Department of Algology, The Affiliated T.C.M Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China
Li-Juan Lu, Department of Algology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China
Jin-Feng Liu, Department of Algology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
Yi-Mei Li, Department of Algology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
Tao Song, Department of Algology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
Wei Tao, Department of Neurosurgery, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong Province, China
Wen Shen, Department of Algology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China
Xiao-Qiu Yang, Department of Algology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Lin Wang, Department of Algology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, China
Xiao-Mei Zhang, Department of Algology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan Province, China
Zhi-Gang Zhuang, Department of Algology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450014, Henan Province, China
Yan-Qing Liu, Department of Algology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
Author contributions: Xiao H, Liu H and Liu YQ conceived the idea, designed and performed research, analyzed data, wrote the paper and reviewed the manuscript; Peng BG, Ma K, Huang D, Liu XG, Lv Y, Liu Q, Lu LJ, Liu JF, Li YM, Song T, Tao W, Shen W, Yang XQ, Zhang XM and Zhuang ZG performed research, reviewed the literature and drafted the Chinese version of the manuscript; All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by Sichuan Science and Technology Program, No. 2018SZ0386.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors disclose no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Hui Liu, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Algology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Wuhou District, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. 18980601547@qq.com
Received: November 28, 2020
Peer-review started: November 28, 2020
First decision: February 12, 2021
Revised: February 25, 2021
Accepted: March 18, 2021
Article in press: March 18, 2021
Published online: March 26, 2021
Processing time: 118 Days and 5.2 Hours
Abstract

Cervicogenic headache (CEH) has been recognized as a unique category of headache that can be difficult to diagnose and treat. In China, CEH patients are managed by many different specialties, and the treatment plans remain controversial. Therefore, there is a great need for comprehensive evidence-based Chinese experts’ recommendations for the management of CEH. The Chinese Association for the Study of Pain asked an expert panel to develop recommendations for a series of questions that are essential for daily clinical management of patients with CEH. A group of multidisciplinary Chinese Association for the Study of Pain experts identified the clinically relevant topics in CEH. A systematic review of the literature was performed, and evidence supporting the benefits and harms for the management of CEH was summarized. Twenty-four recommendations were finally developed through expert consensus voting for evidence quality and recommendation strength. We hope this guideline provides direction for clinicians and patients making treatment decisions for the management of CEH.

Keywords: Cervicogenic headache; Expert recommendation; Expert panel’s guideline; Chinese Association for the Study of Pain; Chronic pain

Core Tip: Cervicogenic headache (CEH) was recognized as a unique category of headache. The treatments of CEH remain controversial among different disciplines. The Chinese Association for the Study of Pain asked a multidisciplinary expert group identified the clinically relevant topics in CEH. Twenty-four recommendations were finally developed through expert consensus voting for evidence quality and recommendation strength. This guideline provides direction for clinicians and patients making treatment decisions for the management of CEH.