What is WALANT surgery?
Wide awake hand surgery is a growing technique used for many types of hand surgery. It involves use of a numbing agent (lidocaine/novocaine) to numb the area for surgery. The technique also uses a medicine called epinephrine (adrenalin) which allows for less bleeding. Epinephrine allows the surgeon to perform the surgery without the use of a tourniquet.
What are some advantages of WALANT surgery?
- Easily Communicate: By staying awake, patients can ask questions and communicate with the surgeon easier during and after the procedure
- Save Time: Patients save time both pre- and post-operatively. They may drive, arrive later for, and leave earlier from their surgeries
- Fewer Restrictions: Patients may eat and drink before surgery and have no fasting restrictions. There is also no need to discontinue or modify any daily home medications.
- Quicker Return to Work: Since no sedation or general anesthesia is used, patients in certain fields can return to work the same day.
- Fewer Side Effects: Commonly experienced side effects to general anesthesia and sedation medicines are avoided with the patient awake.
- Better Patient Safety: Avoiding the use of general anesthesia and sedation medicines improves patient safety.
What are some common types of hand surgery done wide awake?
- Carpal Tunnel Release
- Trigger finger
- Ganglion cyst excision
- Tendon repair
- Tendon Transfer
- Mass removal
- Nail repair
- DeQuervain’s Release
- Some hand fractures
- Foreign body removal
- Infection surgery
- Ligament Repair