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Comparing Numbing Techniques for Mohs Surgery on Face and Scalp

This study is looking at ways to reduce pain and anxiety for adults having Mohs micrographic surgery for skin cancer on their face or scalp. You would be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receives a nerve block with sterile normal saline (a saltwater solution) and the other receives a nerve block with 0.45% lidocaine (a numbing medicine). All participants will also get standard local numbing with lidocaine. Researchers will measure your pain and anxiety levels at different times during the surgery to see which numbing method works best. The goal is to find out if adding a nerve block with lidocaine helps more than saline alone. This study is currently recruiting about 150 participants.

Study design
This is a randomized study comparing two different numbing techniques in about 150 adult participants undergoing Mohs surgery.
What's involved
You would have your pain and anxiety levels measured at three specific times during the first stage of your Mohs surgery.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Pain and anxiety are measured at the end of stage 1 of Mohs micrographic surgery.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07222241

Comparing Numbing Techniques in Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Completed
NAAges 18+InterventionalSupportive care
Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine
~132 participants
Updated 2026-09-04 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Nerve BlockPlacebo Nerve Block

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Intraoperative Pain
Measured over 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.

Conditions

Skin Cancer Face
Skin Cancer Scalp

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Malignant Skin Neoplasm

NCT07222241

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniano site contact published

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Christopher Miller, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Univerisity of Pennsylvania

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

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

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.

What this trial measures

  • Intraoperative PainT1: 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.

    Pain rating reported by the patient using a Visual Analog Scale (0 = no pain; 10 = worst pain imaginable).