Original contribution
Local anesthesia in minor lacerations: Topical TAC vs lidocaine infiltration

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-0644(80)80227-7Get rights and content

To evaluate a solution of tetracaine (0.5%), adrenaline 1:2,000, and cocaine (11.8%) as a topical anesthetic in the repair of minor lacerations, a prospective randomized study was performed comparing it with lidocaine infiltration. One hundred fifty-eight patients of a primarily pediatric age group were treated in the emergency department of Madigan Army Medical Center. Anesthetic efficacy was subjectively evaluated. Other variables observed were patient/parent acceptance of the anesthesia, time required for surgical repair, and wound complication rates. No significant difference was found in the anesthetic efficacy of topical TAC and lidocaine infiltration. Time for surgical repair was significantly reduced, and patient acceptance of topical TAC was markedly improved over lidocaine infiltration. Wound complication rates were not significantly different. This form of anesthesia has definite benefits for the emergency physician because it results in a more manageable patient, with subsequent reduction in physician time required to treat minor lacerations in pediatric patients.

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Cited by (125)

  • A non-inferiority randomized controlled trial comparing the clinical effectiveness of anesthesia obtained by application of a novel topical anesthetic putty with the infiltration of lidocaine for the treatment of lacerations in the emergency department

    2014, Annals of Emergency Medicine
    Citation Excerpt :

    Because intact skin represents the main permeative barrier to the topical delivery of drugs, lacerations present an ideal target for topical administration of anesthesia because there should be excellent tissue accessibility. Trials to assess the use of topical anesthetics compared with infiltration anesthesia have been conducted as far back as 1980.10 The evidence available suggests that for the acute treatment of lacerations, topical local anesthetic application is as effective as infiltration.11

  • Infiltration and Nerve Block Anesthesia

    2012, Wounds and Lacerations: Emergency Care and Closure
  • Local and Regional Anesthesia

    2008, Pediatric Emergency Medicine
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Presented at the University Association for Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting in Tucson, Arizona, April 1980.

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

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