Does a Different Local Anesthetic Improve Pain After Carpal Tunnel Release?
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2023-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study is being conducted to determine whether addition of a longer-acting local
anesthetic to our current anesthetic protocol improves the post-operative pain after carpal
tunnel release. Participants undergoing carpal tunnel release (CTR) will be randomly assigned
to one of two groups: the standard anesthetic or the longer-acting anesthetic. Participants
will not be aware of their assignment. Carpal tunnel release will be performed in the
standard fashion at our hospital. Participants will record their post-operative pain on a
visual scale at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 hours after surgery. They will also record the location of
their post-operative numbness at the same time intervals. The day after surgery, a research
nurse will call each participant to inquire about their post-operative pain scores and
numbness. Participants will also be asked about their consumption of oral painkillers (e.g.
Tylenol, ibuprofen) during the first 24 hours. Participants will be re-assessed 3 months
after surgery to evaluate improvement in carpal tunnel symptoms.
Participants who wish to have carpal tunnel release on both wrists will be randomized to
receive one type of anesthetic for the first side and will receive the other anesthetic for
the second side. They will not be made aware of which medication is used for each side. This
will allow us to directly compare the difference in pain experience between the two
anesthetics.
We hypothesize that use of a longer-acting local anesthetic will lead to decreased
post-operative pain, especially in the first 4-8 hours after surgery.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Saskatchewan
Collaborator:
Saskatoon City Hospital
Treatments:
Anesthetics Anesthetics, Local Bupivacaine Lidocaine