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Clinical comparison of preinjection anesthetics
Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association
|March 21, 1998
Summary
Podiatric surgeons can use various topical anesthetics to reduce injection pain. Due to environmental regulations, older skin refrigerants are phased out, necessitating exploration of alternative anesthetic methods.
Area of Science:
- Podiatry
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Minimizing injection anxiety and discomfort is crucial in podiatric surgery.
- Topical anesthetics offer a solution to manage pain during procedures.
- Environmental regulations impact the availability of certain anesthetic agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and compare the efficacy of various topical anesthetics used in podiatry.
- To discuss the properties and limitations of current anesthetic options.
- To inform practitioners about alternatives to ozone-depleting skin refrigerants.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of topical anesthetic properties.
- Comparison of skin refrigerants, needleless injection systems, iontophoresis, and eutectic mixtures.
- Analysis of patient trial data on anesthetic effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Traditional chlorofluorocarbon-containing vapocoolants are being phased out due to environmental concerns (Montreal Protocol).
- Some newer vapocoolants have extreme temperatures, limiting their application.
- Various topical anesthetics, including EMLA Cream, offer alternatives with differing efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Podiatric surgeons must adapt to the unavailability of certain topical anesthetics.
- Alternative anesthetic modalities show promise in managing injection discomfort.
- Further research and patient trials are essential to guide the selection of effective topical anesthetics.