Buffered lidocaine decreases the pain of digital anesthesia in the foot.
The pain associated with injections for inducing digital anesthesia can be decreased by adding sodium bicarbonate to plain lidocaine. A randomized, double-blind study has demonstrated that 24 out of 30 participants indicated on a visual analogue scale that buffered lidocaine is less painful than plain lidocaine. The pain decreased by 50% or more for almost half of the participants. Practitioners can easily buffer lidocaine in the office by adding a small volume of sodium bicarbonate to plain lidocaine.
Friedman
H E
HE
Department of Surgery, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, USA.
Jules
K T
KT
Springer
K
K
Jennings
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects*; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D014034:Toes / Q000294:innervation*
D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D008012:Lidocaine