Corrective Osteotomies for Digital Overlap in Phalangeal and Metacarpal Fracture Malunion Using Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) Technique: A Technical Note

The use of wide-awake local anesthesia with no tourniquet (WALANT) in surgical procedures of the hand is well described and extends to tendon surgery, carpal tunnel release, trapeziectomy and phalangeal fracture fixation. Its use has not been described in corrective osteotomies of phalangeal or metacarpal fracture malunion. In our series of five patients who underwent phalangeal and metacarpal osteotomies under WALANT, all of the patients achieved union at a mean of 3.5 months and were satisfied with the results. All digital malrotations were corrected. There was an improvement of motion and grip strength by 24% and 29.3% respectively compared to pre-surgery. Corrective osteotomies under WALANT is a safe and effective means of achieving correction of scissoring. With the patient wide awake and cooperating, precise correction of rotational alignment can be ascertained. Concomitant tenolysis allows motion gains to be made over and above the restoration of rotational alignment.

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WALANT Technique versus Sedation for Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release

Hand ◽

10.1177/15589447211003180 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 155894472110031

Author(s):

Ian Wellington ◽

Antonio Cusano ◽

Joel V. Ferreira ◽

Anthony Parrino

Keyword(s):

Local Anesthesia ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Carpal Tunnel Release ◽

Postanesthesia Care Unit ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release ◽

Average Operating ◽

Wide Awake ◽

No Tourniquet ◽

Room Time

Background This study sought to investigate complication rates/perioperative metrics after endoscopic carpal tunnel release (eCTR) via wide-awake, local anesthesia, no tourniquet (WALANT) versus sedation or local anesthesia with a tourniquet. Methods Patients aged 18 years or older who underwent an eCTR between April 28, 2018, and December 31, 2019, by 1 of 2 fellowship-trained surgeons at our single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 3 groups: monitored anesthesia care with tourniquet (MT), local anesthesia with tourniquet (LT), and WALANT. Results Inclusion criteria were met by 156 cases; 53 (34%) were performed under MT, 25 (16%) under LT, and 78 (50%) under WALANT. The MT group (46.1 ± 9.7) was statistically younger compared with LT (56.3 ± 14.1, P = .007) and WALANT groups (53.5 ± 15.8, P = .008), F(2, 153) = 6.465, P = .002. Wide-awake, local anesthesia, no tourniquet had decreased procedural times (10 minutes, SD: 2) compared with MT (11 minutes, SD: 2) and LT (11 minutes, SD: 2), F(2, 153) = 5.732, P = .004). Trends favored WALANT over MT and LT for average operating room time (20 minutes, SD: 3 vs 32 minutes, SD: 6 vs 23 minutes, SD: 3, respectively, F(2, 153) = 101.1, P < .001), postanesthesia care unit time (12 minutes, SD: 7 vs 1:12 minutes, SD: 26 vs 20 minutes, SD: 22, respectively, F(2, 153) =171.1, P < .001), and door-to-door time (1:37 minutes, SD: 21 vs 2:51 minutes, SD: 40 vs 1:46 minutes, SD: 33, respectively, F(2, 153) = 109.3, P < .001). There were no differences in complication rates. Conclusions Our data suggest favorable trends for patients undergoing eCTR via WALANT versus MT versus LT.

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Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet: A Pilot Study for Carpal Tunnel Release in the Philippine Orthopedic Center

The Journal of Hand Surgery (Asian-Pacific Volume) ◽

10.1142/s2424835519500486 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (04) ◽

pp. 389-391

Author(s):

Ian Jason Castro Magtoto ◽

David Limlingan Alagar

Keyword(s):

Local Anesthesia ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Daily Activity ◽

Carpal Tunnel Release ◽

Case Series ◽

Hand Surgery ◽

Great Success ◽

Intraoperative Bleeding ◽

Wide Awake ◽

No Tourniquet

Background: Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) uses a mixture of lidocaine and epinephrine for anesthesia and has found great success in hand surgery. At the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC), we still use local anesthesia along with a tourniquet which gives the patient pain and discomfort at the tourniquet site. This study aims to determine perioperative and post-operative pain, intraoperative bleeding and immediate clinical outcomes of patients using WALANT for surgical anesthesia for carpal tunnel release. Methods: A case series of all patients who underwent carpal tunnel release under WALANT from April 2016 to September 2016 is presented. Those with concomitant trigger finger and de quervain disease which required release on the affected hand were also included. A tourniquet was on standby in case of uncontrollable bleeding. Intraoperative bleeding, pain NRS scores, and return to daily activity were noted. Results: Thirteen patients were included in the study; 3 were male, 10 were female. Mean age was 58 years, Mean surgical time was 15 minutes. Twelve were reported to have “some bleeding” and one was reported to have “bleeding but was still manageable”. None of the surgeries were totally bloodless or had too much bleeding that necessitated a tourniquet. Pain NRS scores during injection of local anesthesia had a mean of 2. None of the patients felt pain during and immediately after the surgery. Average time return to daily activity was 6 days. No complications were noted. Conclusions: Patients included in the study who underwent carpal tunnel release under WALANT did not experience pain associated with a tourniquet. Visualization of the field was adequate enough for the surgeons to do the surgery without the need for a tourniquet and with no associated complications.

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Carpal Tunnel Release With Wide Awake Local Anesthesia and No Tourniquet: With Versus Without Epinephrine

Hand ◽

10.1177/1558944719890038 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 155894471989003

Author(s):

Shafic Sraj

Keyword(s):

Local Anesthesia ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Operative Time ◽

Carpal Tunnel Release ◽

Added Value ◽

Skin Closure ◽

Surgical Time ◽

Operative Complications ◽

Wide Awake ◽

No Tourniquet

Background: Wide awake local anesthesia and no tourniquet (WALANT) relies on epinephrine to create a relatively bloodless field. This study evaluated the effect of epinephrine on carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgical time and bleeding, including the need for use of a tourniquet or electrocautery. The hypothesis was that wide awake anesthesia without epinephrine is a viable option for CTR but increases operative time. Methods: Records of all patients who underwent CTR under wide awake anesthesia between October 2017 and September 2018 were reviewed. The injection consisted of either 10 cc of 1% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine mixed with 1 cc of sodium bicarbonate (8.4%) (WALANT group) or 10 cc of 1% lidocaine (wide awake local anesthesia, no tourniquet and no epinephrine [WALANE] group). The time between skin incision and skin closure was calculated. Tourniquet and electrocautery use as well as operative complications were documented. Results: Thirty-two patients underwent 43 CTRs; 22 CTRs were done under WALANT, and 21 CTRs were done under WALANE. The skin-skin time was 12.8 minute (6-25 minute; standard deviation [SD] = 4.7) for WALANT and 17.4 minute (9-30 minute; SD = 5.8) for WALANE. There was a significant statistical difference (36%) in skin-skin time between the 2 groups. None of the patients required electrocautery or a tourniquet. There were no operative complications. Conclusion: Operative time increased by 36% when epinephrine was not used. Epinephrine is not an absolute necessity to perform wide awake anesthesia but, at the same time, has the added value of decreasing surgical time. Level of evidence: IV

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