The anesthetic effectiveness of lidocaine-adrenaline-tetracaine gel on finger lacerations.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of lidocaine-adrenaline-tetracaine (LAT) in providing adequate anesthesia for the repair of finger lacerations and to monitor the risk of digital ischemia following application of LAT gel to finger lacerations.


METHODS
A prospective case series. Children aged 5 to 18 years with a simple finger laceration-requiring repair were eligible for enrollment. The primary outcome measure was LAT success/failure. Failure was defined as any sharp sensation reported by the patient either before or during suturing. Enrolled patients had LAT gel applied to their laceration for 45 minutes, followed by an examination for signs of digital ischemia and standard laceration repair. Infiltration anesthesia (local subcutaneous injection/digital block) was provided for all LAT failures. Patients were followed up by phone within 3 to 5 days from discharge.


RESULTS
Sixty-seven patients were analyzed in the study. The mean age was 11.9 years. Forty-four (65.7%) of 67 patients were male and 46 (68.7%) were white. Locations of the lacerations were equally distributed on the dorsal and ventral surfaces. The overall LAT success rate was 53.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 41.1% to 66.0%; 36/67). The success rate for dorsal surface lacerations was 68.6% (95% CI, 50.7% to 83.1%; 24/35) versus 37.5% (95% CI, 21.1% to 56.3%; 12/32) for ventral surface lacerations. The difference in success rates between dorsal and ventral surface lacerations was significant (Delta 31.1% [95% CI, 8.3% to 53.8%]). There were no differences in success rates for age, sex, or race. No signs of digital ischemia were noted in any of the 67 cases (0% [95% CI, 0.0% to 5.4%]).


CONCLUSIONS
LAT gel appears to be a safe and effective means of providing anesthesia for the repair of simple finger lacerations in children. It was most effective on the dorsal surface of the finger.
White
Nicholas J
NJ
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA. whitenj@chkd.org
Kim
Michael K
MK
Brousseau
David C
DC
Bergholte
Jo
J
Hennes
Halim
H
D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013748:Tetracaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D005782:Gels; D013748:Tetracaine; D008012:Lidocaine; D004837:Epinephrine