Pain Experience Using Lidocaine Adrenaline Tetracaine (LAT) Gel Versus Lidocaine Infiltration for Laceration Repair in Adults

Pain management is an important component of wound treatment in the emergency department. Local anaesthesia is routinely required for laceration repair, most commonly using infiltrative anaesthesia with lidocaine. Although effective, lidocaine infiltration can cause significant discomfort due to the injection itself and may increase patient anxiety. In addition, infiltration can sometimes distort tissue and potentially complicate the suturing procedure. Alternative approaches that reduce pain during anaesthetic administration may therefore improve patient comfort during wound management.

Topical anaesthesia using lidocaine-adrenaline-tetracaine (LAT) gel represents a needle-free alternative to infiltrative anaesthesia. LAT gel is commonly used in paediatric patients and has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing pain during laceration repair. However, evidence regarding its use in adult patients remains limited. Evaluating the effectiveness of LAT gel in adults may help determine whether it can be used more broadly as an alternative to injection-based anaesthesia in the emergency department.

This prospective comparative study includes adult patients presenting to the emergency department of Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel with simple lacerations requiring suturing. Patients receive either LAT gel or lidocaine infiltration as local anaesthesia according to the clinical judgement of the attending physician. Pain experience is measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) during anaesthetic administration, during testing of anaesthetic adequacy, and during suturing. Additional variables recorded include patient characteristics, wound characteristics, suturing characteristics, the need for additional anaesthesia, and procedure-related complications. The aim of the study is to compare pain experience between both anaesthetic techniques and to assess whether LAT gel may represent a suitable alternative for selected adult lacerations.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Presentation to the emergency department with a simple laceration requiring suturing
• Laceration length less than 7 cm
• Ability to provide informed consent
• Ability to report pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS)

Exclusion criteria

• Suspected tendon injury or nerve injury
• Wounds located on mucosal surfaces
• Wounds located on ears, nose, or genital area
• Known allergy to local anaesthetic agents
• Pregnancy
• Severe cardiac or pulmonary disease
• Drug intoxication or altered mental status
• Sedation with nitrous oxide
• Psychiatric disorder interfering with pain reporting
• Language barrier preventing informed consent or pain assessment