Comparison of Ring Block, Dorsal Penile Nerve Block, and Topical Anesthesia for Neonatal Circumcision

Study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Volume 278 No. 24, pages 2157-2162, December 24/31, 1997. The study was a randomized controlled trial to compare various anesthesia methods for infant circumicison. Enrollment in the study was stopped after it was determined that the control group (babies not receiving any anesthesia) were in great distress from their circumcision.  "The results of this study suggest that an anesthetic should be administered to newborns prior to undergoing circumcision. The ring block was the most effective."

The basic conclusion was that circumcision without anesthesia is painful for infants.