N/A N=140 Randomized Double-blind Treatment

Does a Different Local Anesthetic Improve Pain After Carpal Tunnel Release?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Bottom Line

View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04833777 ↗

Enrolled (actual)

140

Serious AEs

0.0%

Results posted

Feb 2025

Primary outcome: Primary: Post-operative Pain — 1.16; 0.92 score on a scale — p=<0.05

Study Design & Population

Study type: Interventional
Phase: N/A
Interventions: Local Anesthetics Lidocaine (Drug); Local Anesthetics Bupivacaine (Drug)
Age: Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
Sex: All
Sponsor: University of Saskatchewan
Primary completion: Dec 2022

Outcome Measures

Outcome	Result	p-value
PRIMARY Post-operative Pain	3.22; 3.38	<0.05 sig
PRIMARY Post-operative Pain	3.22; 3.38	<0.05 sig
PRIMARY Post-operative Pain	3.22; 3.38	<0.05 sig
PRIMARY Post-operative Pain	3.22; 3.38	<0.05 sig
PRIMARY Post-operative Pain	3.22; 3.38	<0.05 sig
PRIMARY Post-operative Pain	3.22; 3.38	<0.05 sig
PRIMARY Post-operative Analgesia Requirements	14.5; 13	<0.05 sig
PRIMARY Post-operative Analgesia Requirements	14.5; 13	<0.05 sig
SECONDARY Post-operative Numbness	10; 24	<0.05 sig
SECONDARY Post-operative Numbness	10; 24	<0.05 sig
SECONDARY Post-operative Numbness	10; 24	<0.05 sig
SECONDARY Post-operative Numbness	10; 24	<0.05 sig
SECONDARY Post-operative Numbness	10; 24	<0.05 sig
SECONDARY Post-operative Numbness	10; 24	<0.05 sig
SECONDARY Symptom Change at 3 Months	33.1; 19.6; 34.5; 20.7; 15.3; 10.5	—
SECONDARY Post-operative Numbness	10; 24	<0.05 sig
SECONDARY Post-operative Numbness	10; 24	<0.05 sig

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.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Patients aged >18 years undergoing carpal tunnel release

Exclusion Criteria

Patients aged <18 years
Patients undergoing repeat carpal tunnel release
Patients undergoing simultaneous procedures for other hand/wrist pathology at the time of carpal tunnel release (i.e. trigger finger release, Dupuytren's, etc.)
Patients with a history of Rheumatoid Arthritis or a history or previous trauma or surgery to the local area (i.e. distal radius fracture)
Patients who lack the capacity to provide informed consent or understand the nature of the project

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04833777). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.