There is very preliminary evidence based on poor quality trials that EMLA cream applied 30-45 minutes before wound debridement may provide some pain relief. Further information is required to establish this, and to assess the effect of EMLA on healing rates and adverse effects.
Leg ulceration is a common health problem, which increases with age.
However, pain relief is not a routine aspect of treatment. The Cochrane Library. Reviewers provided a descriptive summary of included trials as data pooling was not possible. No trials were included for persistent chronic pain. One double blind trial of 69 patients looked at EMLA cream versus placebo cream.