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Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume)
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*Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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Articles

The Use of a Fine-Gauge Needle to Reduce Pain in Open Carpal Tunnel Decompression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

A. C. WATTS
J. MCEACHAN

From the Department of Orthopaedics, Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, Fife

Correspondence: Mr Adam Watts, SpR Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedics, New Royal Infirmary, Little France, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4SU. Tel.: +0 7971051015. E-mail: adamwatts{at}doctors.org.uk

This randomized controlled study on 86 patients compared the level of pain experienced by patients on instillation of local anaesthetic into the palm with a 23-gauge and a 27-gauge (dental) needle in open carpal tunnel decompression. Patients were asked to score the amount of pain they experienced during the injection of the local anaesthetic and their level of anxiety about future injections using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a four-point verbal response scale (VRS). The mean pain and anxiety scores on the VAS were significantly lower in the dental needle group. There was significant correlation between the pain and anxiety VAS scores. When infiltrating local anaesthetic into the palm for open carpal tunnel decompression, the use of a fine (dental) needle can reduce the pain on that occasion and the anxiety concerning future injections likely to be experienced by the patient.

Key Words: carpal tunnel syndrome • local anaesthesia • pain • hypodermic needle

Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume), Vol. 30, No. 6, 615-617 (2005)
DOI: 10.1016/J.JHSB.2005.06.021
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