COMPARISON OF WOUND-INFECTION RATES USING PLAIN VERSUS BUFFERED LIDOCAINE FOR ANESTHESIA OF TRAUMATIC WOUNDS

Buffered lidocaine has been shown to be less painful than plain lidoca ine for anesthetizing wounds. However, the effect of a buffering agent on the local host defenses has not been evaluated. The infection rate s of wounds anesthetized with plain lidocaine versus buffered lidocain e were compared in an observational cohort study. Consecutive emergenc y department patients with traumatic wounds that required sutures had a closed question wound registry sheet prospectively completed. Follow -up data were obtained at the time of the return visit. Patients faili ng to return were contacted by telephone. Data were analyzed for wound infection rates comparing plain lidocaine with buffered lidocaine. Ch i-squared or Fisher exact tests were used for statistical analysis. Of 2,711 patients analyzed, 2,279 had received plain and 432 had receive d buffered lidocaine. The infection rate for patients treated with pla in lidocaine was 3.5%, versus that for patients treated with buffered lidocaine, 3.9% (P = .63). After adjustment for confounding variables, the infection rate did not differ between plain and buffered lidocain e. The infection rates of wounds repaired after anesthesia with either plain or buffered lidocaine are similar. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. S aunders Company