Topical analgesia for the cutting of split-skin grafts: a multicenter comparison of two doses of a lidocaine/prilocaine cream

Abstract

The topical analgesic effect of two doses of a local anesthetic cream (EMLA, Astra) in the harvesting of split-skin grafts was compared in a double-blind multicenter trial. A standardized area of 200 cm2 at the donor site of 78 patients was randomly treated with 30 or 60 gm of cream 2 to 5 hours before the operation. There was no difference in pain between the groups (p = 0.53). In each group, 92 percent of the patients rated the pain as either none or slight, and 8 percent rated it as either moderate or severe. In conclusion, with the application times of 2 to 5 hours used in this trial, a dose of 15 gm EMLA cream per 100 cm2 is sufficient to provide analgesia for the cutting of split-skin grafts.