title: Prospective evaluation of complications of the usage of buffering lidocaine for secondary intention healing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Circular excision by secondary-intention healing is useful for small skin defects (diameter <10 mm). But the injection pain as the local anesthesia is administered one of the patients' biggest concerns. Buffered lidocaine can effectively relieve the injection pain, but it might increase the potential complications. This study examined the effect of buffered lidocaine on wound healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing circular excision by secondary-intention healing were divided into 2 groups and were administered buffered or unbuffered lidocaine as the local anesthesia. Comparative parameters included injection pain, postoperative pain, complication rate, scar width, and scar quality at 6 months. Statistical differences between the 2 agents were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients in the buffered group experienced 0.9 fewer scaled injection pain units than did the patients in the unbuffered group (p = 0.009). Complication rates and scar appearance did not show any statistical difference between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Buffered lidocaine is useful to relieve the injection pain during the secondary-intention healing, and it is safe to use if it is applied properly.
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Huang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002021:Buffers; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002021:Buffers; D008012:Lidocaine
keywords: buffering lidocaine; complication; prospective evaluation; secondary-intention healing