title: Warm or refrigerated local anaesthetic for open carpal tunnel release: a single blind randomized controlled study.
abstract: The aim of this randomized controlled study was to determine whether administration of lignocaine with adrenaline is less painful when injected at room temperature compared to refrigerated temperature. A cohort of 50 patients undergoing unilateral carpal tunnel decompression was randomized to room temperature or refrigerated local anaesthetic. Pain scores were assessed using a 10 mm visual analogue scale. Mean pain scores were 4.0 (SD +/- 1.5) for room temperature and 6.5 (SD +/- 1.7) for refrigerated local anaesthetic (P < 0.001). This study demonstrates that patients experience greater pain levels with administration of local anaesthetic at refrigerated temperatures prior to open carpal tunnel release.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Cheltenham General Hospital, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK. petetomlinson1@hotmail.com
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Field
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012034:Refrigeration
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine