BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tramadol blocks somatosensory potentials in vitro and may be associated to local anesthetics to improve analgesic quality. This study aimed at evaluating whether tramadol changes lidocaine motor block regression in two different concentrations. METHOD: Male Wistar rats weighing 250 to 300 g were submitted to sciatic nerve block guided by percutaneous nerve stimulation. Animals were distributed in four groups (n = 5 per group): 2% lidocaine (GI), 0.5% lidocaine (GII), 2% lidocaine/1.25 mg tramadol (GIII), 0.5% lidocaine/1.25 mg tramadol (GIV). Partial and total motor block regression times were evaluated. RESULTS: Al animals had total motor block when awakening from anesthesia, which has totally regressed during the observation period. Total regression time of 2% lidocaine was 41 ± 1.71 minutes, 0.5% lidocaine was 25.26 ± 0.83 minutes, 2% lidocaine/tramadol was 46.06 ± 0.88 minutes and 0.5% lidocaine/tramadol was 36.15 ± 1.18 minutes. The association of 0.5% lidocaine and 1.25 mg tramadol was more effective as compared to 0.5% lidocaine alone. Data are presented in mean ± mean standard error (mse), considering significant p < 0.05 using ANOVA followed by Tukey test. CONCLUSION: Tramadol has effects similar to local anesthetics and, when used as adjuvant of lidocaine, prolongs motor block duration in rats.
Lidocaine; Nervous block; Tramadol
