Hematoma block for distal radius fractures – prospective, randomized comparison of two different volumes of lidocaine

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare analgesic efficacy and safety of different volumes of lidocaine injected into a fracture hematoma (hematoma block [HB]) for reducing distal radius fractures. METHODS: Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A included patients in whom 10 mL of 2% lidocaine was injected into the fracture site and group B included patients in whom 20 mL of 1% lidocaine was injected. The fracture was manipulated after 15 minutes and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score was recorded during manipulation. Patients were followed up for approximately 1 hour and complications were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled in the study (12 women and eight men), with a mean age of 57 years (range, 32–87 years). Demographic findings were similar between the groups. The mean VAS score of group A was 5.50 ± 3.57 and that in group B was 3.09 ± 2.33, with no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: VAS scores between HB with 20 mL of 1% lidocaine and HB with 10 mL of 2% lidocaine are not significantly different. However, our study suggests that HB with 20 mL of 1% lidocaine has a better analgesic effect than HB with 10 mL of 2% lidocaine.