Research Article

Dermal Blockade As A Complementary Rescue Treatment For Refractory Renal Colic: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study

Volume: 23 Number: 3 September 21, 2026
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Dermal Blockade As A Complementary Rescue Treatment For Refractory Renal Colic: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: Renal colic is a frequent and painful urological emergency requiring rapid analgesia. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids are widely used, some patients remain symptomatic or have contraindications. Dermal blockade via intradermal sterile water injection has been proposed as a simple complementary treatment, but its role as a rescue strategy in refractory cases remains unclear. 
Materials and Methods: In this retrospective comparative cohort study, 165 patients with persistent renal colic despite initial therapy were included. Patients received either dermal blockade (n=72) or conventional additional analgesia (n=93). Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at baseline and at 1, 15, 30, and 60 minutes. The primary outcome was change in VAS score at 30 minutes (ΔVAS30). Secondary outcomes included clinical success (VAS ≤3), ≥50% pain reduction, pain recurrence, pain-free duration, repeat intervention, and urgent urinary diversion. 
Results: Baseline demographic, clinical, and stone-related characteristics, including stone size, stone location, and hydronephrosis grade, were comparable between groups. The primary endpoint, ΔVAS30, was significantly greater in the dermal blockade group than in the conventional additional analgesia group (7.78±1.68 vs. 6.87±1.97; mean difference [MD] 0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33-1.49; p=0.003). Patients receiving dermal blockade also demonstrated lower VAS scores at all post-treatment time points and higher rates of clinical success at 30 minutes (77.8% vs. 52.7%; odds ratio (OR) 3.14, 95% CI 1.61-6.11; p=0.001). In longitudinal mixed-effects analysis, pain scores declined more rapidly in the dermal blockade group (group × time interaction: β=-0.31, 95% CI -0.49 to -0.13; p=0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, renal dysfunction, stone size, stone location, and hydronephrosis grade, dermal blockade remained independently associated with clinical success at 30 minutes (adjusted OR 3.46, corresponding to conventional treatment OR 0.289, 95% CI 1.35-8.85; p=0.009). Secondary outcomes, including pain recurrence, pain-free duration, repeat intervention, and urgent urinary diversion, were similar between groups. 
Conclusions: Dermal blockade was associated with improved early pain outcomes and greater short-term pain reduction in patients with refractory renal colic. 

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Adıyaman University (approval no: 2018/5-5, date: May 24, 2018).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Urology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 21, 2026

Submission Date

June 2, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 14, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 23 Number: 3

APA
Kalyenci, B., Benlioğlu, C., Yücel, M. Ö., Çift, A., & Sulhan, H. (2026). Dermal Blockade As A Complementary Rescue Treatment For Refractory Renal Colic: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, 23(3), 476-489. https://izlik.org/JA83LS66TU
AMA
1.Kalyenci B, Benlioğlu C, Yücel MÖ, Çift A, Sulhan H. Dermal Blockade As A Complementary Rescue Treatment For Refractory Renal Colic: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026;23(3):476-489. https://izlik.org/JA83LS66TU
Chicago
Kalyenci, Bedreddin, Can Benlioğlu, Mehmet Özgür Yücel, Ali Çift, and Hasan Sulhan. 2026. “Dermal Blockade As A Complementary Rescue Treatment For Refractory Renal Colic: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study”. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi 23 (3): 476-89. https://izlik.org/JA83LS66TU.
EndNote
Kalyenci B, Benlioğlu C, Yücel MÖ, Çift A, Sulhan H (September 1, 2026) Dermal Blockade As A Complementary Rescue Treatment For Refractory Renal Colic: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi 23 3 476–489.
IEEE
[1]B. Kalyenci, C. Benlioğlu, M. Ö. Yücel, A. Çift, and H. Sulhan, “Dermal Blockade As A Complementary Rescue Treatment For Refractory Renal Colic: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study”, Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 476–489, Sept. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA83LS66TU
ISNAD
Kalyenci, Bedreddin - Benlioğlu, Can - Yücel, Mehmet Özgür - Çift, Ali - Sulhan, Hasan. “Dermal Blockade As A Complementary Rescue Treatment For Refractory Renal Colic: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study”. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi 23/3 (September 1, 2026): 476-489. https://izlik.org/JA83LS66TU.
JAMA
1.Kalyenci B, Benlioğlu C, Yücel MÖ, Çift A, Sulhan H. Dermal Blockade As A Complementary Rescue Treatment For Refractory Renal Colic: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026;23:476–489.
MLA
Kalyenci, Bedreddin, et al. “Dermal Blockade As A Complementary Rescue Treatment For Refractory Renal Colic: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study”. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 23, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 476-89, https://izlik.org/JA83LS66TU.
Vancouver
1.Bedreddin Kalyenci, Can Benlioğlu, Mehmet Özgür Yücel, Ali Çift, Hasan Sulhan. Dermal Blockade As A Complementary Rescue Treatment For Refractory Renal Colic: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi [Internet]. 2026 Sep. 1;23(3):476-89. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA83LS66TU

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