Surgical Pearl: Mechanoanesthesia to Reduce the Pain of Local Injections

In 2001, a technique using a mechanical vibrating device to reduce the pain of local injections, such as those used for hair restoration surgery and intralesional corticosteroid injections for alopecia areata, was described. The method, which had been adapted since 1990, involved using the device near the injection site to distract the nervous system, making it less able to perceive pain. Approximately 1000 consecutive procedures had been performed with this device, and while the degree of pain relief varied among patients, the technique was reported to be helpful 100% of the time. The efficacy could be tested by comparing patient discomfort with and without the use of the vibrator. The device used was the rechargeable Acuvibe model AV-6002A. The exact mechanism of action was not known, but it was suggested that the nervous system might not fully receive sensory input of two different types (pain and vibration) simultaneously.