Lidocaine injections for abdominal wall pain

Effect of Abdominal Wall Injections on Abdominal Pain

PHASE4 · Oregon Health and Science University · NCT06121466

This will test whether lidocaine injections into the abdominal wall reduce pain in adults with chronic abdominal wall pain.

Quick facts

PhasePHASE4
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment45 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 100 Years
SexAll
SponsorOregon Health and Science University (other)
Locations2 sites (Portland, Oregon and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06121466 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This prospective cohort will enroll 30 outpatient adults with chronic abdominal wall pain who receive standard-of-care lidocaine injections at an academic gastroenterology clinic. Baseline evaluation includes medical history, standardized questionnaires (Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Psychological Inflexibility in Pain Scale, PROMIS-29, and a Recurrent Abdominal Pain Intensity and Disability scale) and Quantitative Sensory Testing to measure pain thresholds and tolerance. Pain outcomes are measured at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after injection, with improvement defined as a 50% reduction on an 11-point numeric pain scale. Data analysis will use summary statistics, paired comparisons over time (one-sample t-test or Wilcoxon), chi-square for categorical variables, and logistic regression to identify factors associated with response.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (age ≥18) with localized abdominal wall pain suspected to be from the abdominal wall (positive Carnett's sign or pain near an incision) and average daily pain of at least 3/10 are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with suspected visceral causes of pain, an abdominal wall hernia at the pain site, severe lidocaine allergy, prior trigger-point injections for abdominal pain, or inability to complete follow-up are unlikely to benefit from these injections.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide meaningful short-term pain relief for some patients with abdominal wall pain and help identify who is most likely to benefit.

How similar studies have performed: Small case series and single-center reports have shown benefit from local anesthetic abdominal wall injections for ACNES and similar syndromes, but high-quality prospective data are still limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Localized abdominal wall pain
* Average daily pain (7-day recall) ≥ 3 on a scale of 0-10
* Suspected abdominal wall etiology for abdominal pain
* Positive Carnett's sign or pain near an incisional site
* 18 years of age or older

Exclusion Criteria:

* Suspected visceral etiology for the abdominal pain
* Severe allergy to lidocaine
* Unwillingness or inability to provide informed consent
* Low probability of follow-up
* Abdominal wall hernia noted at the point of pain
* History of trigger point injections for abdominal pain
* Bleeding disorder
* Pregnancy, incarceration or decisionally impaired

Where this trial is running

Portland, Oregon and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.