A Phase 4 interventional study of Transthecal Metacarpal Block in Finger Injuries, sponsored by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged Up to 18 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2007-10-05.
Sponsored by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment
The purpose of this study is to determine if the transthecal metacarpal block is superior to the traditional digital block for regional digital anesthesia in children.
Background: Finger injuries and infections are common presenting problems in the pediatric emergency department. A traditional digital block, requiring at least two injections of anesthetic, is the traditional method of regional anesthesia for many finger procedures. Digital blocks can sometimes be difficult to administer and assess for effectiveness especially in children. A newer procedure, the transthecal metacarpal block, may be easier to administer, and more effective with one injection.
Objective: To determine if the transthecal metacarpal block (MCB) provides superior digit anesthesia in children requiring painful finger procedures as compared to the traditional digital block (TDB).
Methods: A randomized clinical trial comparing the MCB to the TDB will be conducted in an urban, tertiary care pediatric emergency department. Children \<18 years of age, presenting to the emergency department with a finger injury or infection, which requires regional anesthesia for repair will be screened for eligibility. Eligible patients, with appropriate consent will be randomized to receive either the MCB or TDB with 1% Lidocaine. The primary outcome, success of the block will be assessed using pinprick testing after a standardized wait time. Secondary outcomes including pain with the block and repair, repairing physician satisfaction, and short-term complications will also be assessed.
Implications: Finding successful methods of anesthesia and pain control are paramount in the pediatric emergency department. In addition, using a type of digital block which is easy to administer, successful, and requires only one injection would give physicians confidence to treat finger injuries in children with regional anesthesia and possibly avoid procedural sedation in some cases. To date, no studies have been published on the efficacy of digital blocks in children. This study will also serve to give baseline success rates for both types of digital blocks.
23 studies on the registry are indexed under Finger Injuries; 3 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 92 is above the median of 60 across 18 interventional studies indexed under Finger Injuries.
Browse Finger Injuries studies →Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is the lead sponsor of 480 studies on the registry; 85 are open to participants now.
Of its 28 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 22 (79%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
randomized to receive the metacarpal block for anesthesia
Procedure: Transthecal Metacarpal Block
Success of the two types of digital blocks
Time frame: immediate
Pain experienced with the digital block
Time frame: immediate
Repairing physician satisfaction with the procedure
Time frame: immediate
complications associated with digital block
Time frame: 30 days
This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2005. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Children's Hospital of Philadelphia