Lidocaine Infusion for Broken Arm

This trial tests whether a lidocaine infusion during surgery can reduce the need for pain medication in children with broken arms. Lidocaine, a medication often used to numb body areas, will be compared to a placebo (a treatment that looks the same but contains no active drug) to determine if it decreases the need for opioids, which are strong painkillers. Suitable candidates for this trial are children aged 3 to 18 undergoing surgery to repair a broken arm at Nemours Children's Hospital in the Delaware Valley. As a Phase 4 trial, this research aims to understand how an already FDA-approved and effective treatment can benefit more patients.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but if you are on strong CYP450 inhibitors or have planned use of continuous infusion pain medications, you may not be eligible to participate.

Research has shown that intravenous lidocaine is generally safe and well-tolerated during surgeries. Studies comparing lidocaine to other pain relief methods, such as pethidine and morphine, have found that lidocaine maintains a good safety record. For example, one study found that lidocaine significantly reduced pain in patients with bone fractures without causing major side effects. Another study demonstrated that lidocaine also reduced the need for additional pain medication after surgery, aiding recovery.

Lidocaine infusions have been safely used in various procedures to ease pain and reduce the need for opioids (strong painkillers). This reduction is important because it means fewer side effects from opioids, such as nausea and drowsiness. While all medications can have side effects, serious reactions to lidocaine in these situations are rare.

Lidocaine infusion is unique because it offers a potentially faster and more targeted approach to pain relief for a broken arm compared to traditional options like oral painkillers or topical analgesics. While most treatments focus on blocking pain at the site of injury or through the bloodstream, lidocaine infusion directly targets nerve signals responsible for pain. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it could provide rapid pain relief without the side effects commonly associated with systemic pain medications, offering a promising alternative for managing acute pain effectively.

Studies have shown that intravenous lidocaine can help manage pain from bone fractures. Research indicates it can lessen pain and reduce the need for extra pain medication after surgery. In this trial, some participants will receive a lidocaine infusion. Previous trials demonstrated that patients who received lidocaine reported less pain than those who did not. Another study found that lidocaine helped lower opioid use and improved recovery times. Overall, the evidence suggests that lidocaine is a promising option for reducing pain and aiding recovery in fracture surgeries.¹⁴⁵⁶⁷