title: Reducing the pain associated with local anaesthetic infiltration for open carpal tunnel decompression.
abstract: This prospective, randomized study assessed the effectiveness of buffering lidocaine with sodium bicarbonate for reducing the pain associated with local anaesthetic infiltration for open carpal tunnel decompression. Twenty-one patients undergoing bilateral open carpal tunnel decompression received, in a randomized manner, lidocaine 1% with adrenaline (1:200,000) in one hand and the same local anaesthetic buffered with 8.4% NaHCO3 at a 5:1 ratio in the other hand. Pain, especially its burning element, was evaluated on a visual analogue scale and was significantly reduced with the buffered solution. The buffering was effective for all patients and no adverse effects were noted. This is a safe, easy and quick method for making open carpal tunnel surgery less uncomfortable to patients.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, Achillopoulion Volos General Hospital, Polymeri Street, Volos, Greece. vossinakis@panafoent.gr
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Vossinakis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stavroulaki
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paleochorlidis
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Badras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D002021:Buffers; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002021:Buffers; D004338:Drug Combinations; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D008012:Lidocaine; D004837:Epinephrine