Postoperative pain relief for circumcision in children: Comparison among morphine, nerve block, and topical analgesia

Abstract

We investigated the efficacy of topical analgesia in relief of postcircumcision pain in comparison with blockade of the dorsal nerve of penis, narcotic administration, and a control group in whom no analgesic treatment was given. Topical analgesia has the advantages of having neither central nervous system nor respiratory depression. The application was simple and required no skill of regional nerve block. It could be repeated in the later postoperative period by either the child or his parents. With repeated application, topical analgesia could be maintained for the extended period of time and a state of 'painless circumcision' could be achieved. It is the most noninvasive technique when compared with the caudal block. In considering all the above factors, topical analgesia is superior to the other methods of analgesia used for relief of postcircumcision pain and deserves wider application.