title: Buffered versus plain lidocaine as a local anesthetic for simple laceration repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Buffered lidocaine was compared with plain lidocaine as a local anesthetic for simple lacerations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blind, prospective clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban emergency department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-one adult patients with simple linear lacerations were enrolled. Patients with allergy to lidocaine and patients with an abnormal mental status were excluded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each wound edge was anesthetized with either plain or buffered lidocaine using a randomized, double-blind protocol. The pain of infiltration was measured with a previously validated visual analog pain scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of pooled data and paired data (using patients as their own controls) revealed that infiltrating buffered lidocaine was significantly less painful than plain lidocaine (P = .03 and P = .02, respectively). There was no significant difference in the anesthetic effectiveness of the two agents during suturing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Buffered lidocaine is preferable to plain lidocaine as a local anesthetic agent for the repair of simple lacerations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ambulatory Care, Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, New York 10461.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bartfield
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gennis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barbera
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Breuer
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gallagher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002021:Buffers; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002021:Buffers; D008012:Lidocaine