Original Artical: PDF OnlyPlasma Lidocaine Levels Following Hematoma Block for Distal Radius FracturesMeinig, Richard P.; Lynette Lobmeyer, Allen Quick Author Information Department of Orthopaedics, and NIH Clinical Mass Spectrometry Research Source, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 3(3):p 187-191, September 1989. Buy Abstract Venous plasma levels of lidocaine were determined in 8 patients presenting to the emergency department with acute distal radius fractures and who had had anesthesia with fracture hematoma block. The block was performed in an aseptic fashion via a dorsal approach with a dose of 2.2–2.4 mg/kg of lidocaine without epinephrine. Onset of anesthesia was in <5 min which reduced pain from manipulation of the fracture to modest levels. Plasma lidocaine levels determined by gas chromatography-mass Spectrometry reflected rapid systemic absorption of lidocaine from the fracture hematoma. Maximum systemic concentrations were seen at 20–30 min and ranged from 100 to 1,100 ng/ml, well below the toxic threshold of 5,000 ng/ml. © Lippincott-Raven Publishers.
