Local anaesthetic agents in surgery for ingrown toenail

Abstract

To determine the most effective local anaesthetic for ingrown toenail surgery, 100 procedures were performed after patients had been randomized to receive lignocaine, bupivacaine or hyaluronidase and bupivacaine. The effect of each anaesthetic was monitored and 80 patients returned a follow-up questionnaire. There was no significant difference in the time for the local anaesthetic to take effect, or in the pain caused by its injection or the procedure. Significant differences were found between treatments with respect to pain at discharge from hospital and significantly fewer patients who received bupivacaine experienced pain 24 h after surgery (P = 0.002). Bupivacaine provides quick-acting and long-lasting anaesthesia and should be used in preference to lignocaine.