Related Experiment Videos
Laser assisted delivery of topical anesthesia for intramuscular needle insertion in adults
Howard Shapiro1, Lisbeth Harris, Fred W Hetzel
1Department of Research, HealthONE Alliance, Denver, CO 80218, USA. hshapiro@health1.org
Background And Objectives:
Currently there is no safe, effective, and rapid means to eliminate the pain associated with a needle insertion through the skin. It is hypothesized that ablation of the stratum corneum layer using a low energy Erbium(Er):YAG laser would allow rapid local anesthesia from a lidocaine product.
Study Design/Materials And Methods:
Eighty volunteers participated in a placebo-controlled, double blind, cross-over study employing the Norwood-Abbey (Chelsea Heights, Victoria, Australia) laser anesthesia device (LAD) and two lidocaine preparations. Upper-arm skin ablation was followed by a 5-minute application of study treatment. Pain scores were registered immediately following a needle insertion.
Results:
Comparing the combined lidocaine preparations to placebo, there was a statistically significant reduction in pain when the LAD was employed (P < 0.001). The median pain reduction for lidocaine was 51.3% (95% CI = [40.9, 76.1]).
Conclusions:
Use of the low energy Er:YAG LAD device in combination with a 5-minute application of lidocaine significantly reduced the pain associated with a needle insertion.