Purpose of the Study: This study aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and long-term outcomes of "Sphenopalatine Ganglion (SPG) Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF)" treatment in patients with chronic headaches and facial pain. The SPG is a major neural junction for craniofacial pain signaling. PRF is a safe, minimally invasive technique that modulates pain transmission without causing thermal damage to the nerve tissue.
Methodology: The study will include 55 volunteer patients at the Ankara Bilkent City Hospital Algology Clinic who are unresponsive to medical treatments. Patients will undergo the standard "fluoroscopy-guided infrazygomatic approach." Pain intensity (VAS), quality of life, patient satisfaction, and changes in analgesic consumption will be recorded at baseline and during follow-up visits at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post-procedure using various clinical parameters.
Expected Benefits and Risks: The research intends to provide evidence regarding the 6-month long-term impact of this intervention on pain scores and patient well-being. Since the study follows routine clinical practices, it poses no additional risks to participants and aims to optimize future treatment strategies.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Patients aged 18 years and older (no upper age limit)
* Patients diagnosed with refractory chronic headache (including cluster headache, migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania, hemicrania continua, SUNCT, or SUNA) or chronic orofacial pain / trigeminal neuralgia
* Pain duration of at least 3 months
* Pain intensity score (VAS or NRS) \> 3 out of 10
* Patients unresponsive to conservative medical treatments
* Patients scheduled for sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment as part of routine clinical care
* Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Systemic infection or local skin infection at the needle insertion site
* Known coagulopathy or bleeding disorders
* Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)
* Presence of an intracranial mass or significant anatomical distortion in the pterygopalatine fossa region
* Previous surgical intervention involving the sphenopalatine ganglion
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Severe psychiatric or cognitive disorders preventing reliable pain assessment or follow-up
* Hemodynamic instability
* Refusal to participate in the study or undergo the procedure
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Assessment of Pain Intensity Reduction Using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Following Sphenopalatine Ganglion Pulsed Radiofrequency
Timeframe: "Baseline, 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months post-procedure
2
Change in Pain Intensity via Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Timeframe: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months post-procedure.