Ropivacaine versus lidocaine in digital nerve blocks: a prospective study.

Background: Ropivacaine is a relatively new long-acting amide local anesthetic. Since its introduction in 1996, it has been used for subcutaneous infiltration; epidural, intrathecal, and peripheral nerve block surgery; and postoperative analgesia. However, it has never been used for digital blocks.

Comparison of transthecal digital block and traditional digital block for anesthesia of the finger.

A randomized, double-blind study was performed in 50 patients to compare the transthecal and traditional subcutaneous infiltration techniques of digital block anesthesia regarding the onset of time to achieve anesthesia and pain during the infiltration. All the patients had sustained injury involving two or four fingers of the hand. Each patient served as his or her own control, having one finger infiltrated with the transthecal technique and the other with the subcutaneous infiltration technique.