J Emerg Med
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Injectable Lidocaine Provides Similar Analgesia Compared to Transdermal Lidocaine/Tetracaine Patch for the Incision and Drainage of Skin Abscesses: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.
Local anesthesia used for incision and drainage of abscesses is known to be painful. ⋯ Local injection of lidocaine provided clinically similar analgesia compared to the lidocaine/tetracaine patch during I&D of skin abscesses in the ED. Pain at presentation and after the procedure was similar in both groups. Emergency physicians should continue to use a local injected anesthetic for I&D of skin abscesses until a less painful alternative is identified.