EMLA CREAM AS A TOPICAL ANESTHETIC FOR ULCER DEBRIDEMENT AND SIMULTANEOUS SPLIT-SKIN GRAFTING

The object of the study was to investigate the effect of EMLA cream wh en used as an anaesthetic for the debridement of ulcers and wounds. Th e cream was applied to a fresh, standardized wound caused by a dermato me, to an ulcer which was to be revised and for simultaneous split-ski n grafting to both donor site and recipient area to be debrided. The e ffect on wound healing, the plasma concentrations of lidocaine and pri locaine and the analgesic effect following the application of EMLA to the ulcer and to both ulcer and donor site were studied. The study sho wed that EMLA cream when topically applied has a sufficient analgesic effect for revision of an open ulcer and can be used concomitantly for both revision of the ulcer and cutting of the split-skin graft. The a pplication of EMLA cream to the fresh wound, or to the recipient area prior to cleaning, did not cause any clinical signs of a delayed heali ng at the applied areas compared to the control sites.