• Caspar S Madsen, Birger Johnsen, Anders Fuglsang-Frederiksen, Troels S Jensen, and Nanna B Finnerup.
• Danish Pain Research Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Norrebrogade 44, Building 1A, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark. caspar.madsen@ki.au.dk
• Muscle Nerve. 2013 Aug 1;48(2):265-71.

IntroductionWe examined the effect of topical lidocaine on the function of small and large fibers in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain due to traumatic or postoperative nerve injury.MethodsIn an open-label study, 24 patients were treated with a 5% lidocaine patch for up to 12 weeks. We recorded contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPs) and performed quantitative sensory testing (QST) before and after treatment with the contralateral side as control.ResultsTwenty-one patients (mean age 47.6 ± 13.5 years) completed the study. Lidocaine increased cold pain threshold (P = 0.04) and reduced CHEP amplitude (P = 0.007) with no effect on other QST parameters. Patients responding to treatment had less cold detection deficit on the affected side and had a larger increase in cold pain detection threshold following treatment than nonresponders.ConclusionsControlled trials are warranted to further understand the mechanisms mediating the effects of topical lidocaine.© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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