Comparing Numbing Techniques in Mohs Micrographic Surgery (NCT07222241) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Comparing Numbing Techniques in Mohs Micrographic Surgery
United States150 participantsStarted 2026-01-27
Plain-language summary
This study seeks to determine whether adjunct regional nerve blocks reduce pain and anxiety in adult patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery for face and scalp skin cancers. Participants will be randomized to one of two arms: (1) placebo regional nerve block with sterile normal saline or (2) adjunct regional nerve block with lidocaine. All patients receive local infiltration with lidocaine for complete anesthesia.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age ≥18 years.
* Scheduled to undergo MMS.
* Lesions on the face or scalp, defined as the region superior to the mandibular margin anteriorly, superior to the external occipital protuberance posteriorly, and superior to the mastoid processes laterally.
* Tumor diameter plus anticipated stage 1 MMS margin ≥2 cm in diameter OR any tumor on the ear, lip, nose, or eyelid.
* Ability to complete patient reported outcome measures in English.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Known allergy or contraindication to lidocaine or epinephrine.
* Chronic opioid use or pre existing pain disorders that may interfere with pain reporting.
* Presence of scar tissue at the anatomic site of local infiltration or nerve block that may alter anesthetic penetration.
* Concurrent multi site Mohs procedure.
* Signs of skin and soft tissue infection at the anatomic site of local infiltration or nerve block.
* Inability to understand or complete pain and satisfaction assessments.
* Pregnant or breastfeeding.
* Use of sedatives or anxiolytics prior to the procedure.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Intraoperative Pain
Timeframe: T1: After nerve block; T2: Immediately after completion of local infiltration but before surgical excision; T3: At the end of stage 1 of Mohs micrographic surgery.
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07222241
SponsorAbramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine
Sponsor typeOTHER
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Primary completion2026-07-31
Contact for this trial
Kaiyu Ma Clinical research regulatory specialist, PhD