Comparison of local anesthetic effects of tramadol and lidocaine used subcutaneously in minor surgeries with local anesthesia.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, the local anesthetic and post-operative analgesic effects of tramadol were compared to those of lidocaine in minor surgeries under local anesthesia. METHODS: This double-blind clinical trial study included 70 patients in ASA physical status I and II, aging between 20 and 50 years, undergoing minor surgery (lipoma excision and revision of scars less than 4 cm within 30 minutes or less) under local anesthesia. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either 2 mg/kg tramadol (group T, n = 35) or 1 mg/kg lidocaine 2% (group L, n = 35) subcutaneously. Scores of the pain sensation were recorded as VAS (visual analogue scale 0-10) during injection, incision and 15, 30 and 45 minutes after incision, and then 2, 4 and 6 hours post-operatively at the ward. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between pain scores of the two groups during injection, incision and surgery or in the post-operative period at the ward (p = 0.181). Incidence of nausea was 0% and 22.8% in group L and group T, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.002). Furthermore, 82.9% of subjects in group L and 60% of subjects in group T needed acetaminophen to control their pain and the difference was significant (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Tramadol 2 mg/kg has local anesthetic and post-operative analgesic effect equal to lidocaine 1 mg/kg in minor surgeries performed subcutaneously. Therefore, we concluded that tramadol can be used as an alternative drug to lidocaine in local anesthesia and has the ability to decrease the demand for post operative analgesics.