Prospective Evaluation of Topical Analgesia for Laceration Repair in the Emergency Department

Prospective Evaluation of Topical Analgesia Using a Lidocaine/Prilocaine Cream for Laceration Repair in the Emergency Department

The purpose of this study is to determine if topical analgesia using a lidocaine and prilocaine cream improves pain scores compared to the usual local anesthesia using subcutaneous 1% lidocaine and adrenalin injected near the laceration.

A prospective randomized open clinical trial conducted in two high volume emergency departments in France.

Adult patients presenting for laceration repair by suture will be allocated, after consent is obtained, on a one to one basis using a randomisation by minimisation method.

126 patients are expected to enrol in the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Superficial skin laceration requiring a suture

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known allergy to lidocaine
• Mucous membrane or eye wound
• Nose, ear or perineal wound
• Active hemorrhage in the wound
• Dirty or infected wound
• Wound requiring operation room management
• Distracting pain in an other location
• Intoxicated or comatose patient
• Patient Under guardianship
• Contra-indication to Lidocaine/Prilocaine cream: hypersensitivity, glucose-6-phosphate deficiency, idiopathic methemoglobinemia
• Neurologic disorder affecting pain sensitivity
• Dementia
• Pregnancy, breast feeding, absence of contraceptive measures for women of childbearing age
• Absence of signed informed consent
• Inclusion in an other interventional clinical protocol