Alkalinisation of lignocaine to reduce the pain of digital nerve blockade.
OBJECTIVE
To see if the alkalinisation of lignocaine caused a reduction in the pain of injection for digital nerve blockade.


METHODS
The study was a prospective randomised double blind study with each patient acting as their own control. During the study period, all patients aged 16 years and over presenting to the accident and emergency department with a condition requiring digital nerve blockade were considered for inclusion in the study. Each patient received an injection of both alkalinised and non-alkalinised lignocaine. The pain of each injection was then assessed on a visual analogue scale.


RESULTS
98 patients were entered in the study. The mean difference in pain scores between the non-alkalinised and alkalinised injections was 0.739, P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval 0.47 to 1.01.


CONCLUSIONS
Alkalinisation of lignocaine reduces the pain of injection for digital nerve blockade.
Cornelius
P
P
Accident and Emergency Department, Bristol Royal Infirmary, United Kingdom.
Kendall
J
J
Meek
S
S
Rajan
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine