Effects of lidocaine on incision healing in mice

Objective To observe the effects of subcutaneous injection of lidocaine at different doses on incision healing in mice. Methods Kunming mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10): a normal saline (NS) group and 10 mg·kg^-1, 20 mg·kg^-1, 40 mg·kg^-1 lidocaine (L₁₀, L₂₀, and L₄₀) groups. Corresponding doses of lidocaine were subcutaneously injected in L₁₀, L₂₀ and L₄₀ group 10 min before skin incising, while the same volume of NS was administered in the NS group. The length of incision was measured 72 h and 96 h after operation in each group. The number of mice with healed wound was daily recorded from Days 5-10, and the average incision healing time and the cumulative incision healing rate on each day were calculated in each group. Results Compared with the NS group, the L₄₀group showed remarkably shortened incision length 72 h after operation (P<0.01), while markedly shortened incision length was found in the L₂₀and L₄₀groups 96 h after operation (P <0.05 or P<0.01). The average incision healing time in the L₁₀, L₂₀ and L₄₀ groups were shorter than that in the NS group. Meanwhile, the L₄₀ group produced markedly higher cumulative incision healing rates on Days 7, 8 and 9, compared with the NS group (P <0.05). Conclusions 20 mg·kg^-1 and 40 mg·kg^-1 lidocaine can promote incision healing in mice.