Open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fracture using wide-awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet technique.

INTRODUCTION: Ankle fractures frequently occur and must be treated with open reduction for long-term stability. The existing anaesthesia methods include general anaesthesia, spinal and epidural anaesthesia, peripheral nerve block and local anaesthesia with IV sedation. However, each method has its inherent risks and potential costs, and the use of a tourniquet is inevitable. Therefore, the wide-awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique provides an alternative method for equivalent haemostasis and pain control without the use of a tourniquet. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 13 consecutive patients (9 males and 4 females) who presented ankle fractures and required ORIF from January 2017 to December 2017. The fracture types of the 13 patients included lateral malleolar fracture (three patients), bimalleolar fracture (two patients), bimalleolar equivalent fracture (three patients), medial malleolar fracture (two patients) and trimalleolar fracture (three patients; articular surface involvement <25%). We used a solution of 1% lidocaine mixed with 1:40,000 epinephrine for WALANT. RESULTS: All patients underwent surgery if they exhibited an initial numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) score of 0 without using a tourniquet. Only two patients required an additional 5 ml of local anaesthesia due to NPRS score elevation during the surgery; no dose exceeded the safe limit of 7 mg/kg. No local complications occurred, and no shifts to other anaesthesia methods were required due to the failure of WALANT. CONCLUSIONS: WALANT simplified surgical preparations and provided a safe and reliable method for ankle fracture management. Because the use of a tourniquet was not required, reduced postsurgical pain was observed. Moreover, the use of local anaesthesia resulted in more satisfied patients and facilitated easier recovery.

Comparison of Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet With General Anesthesia With Tourniquet for Volar Plating of Distal Radius Fracture.

Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) is used for various hand surgeries, but there are no reports of its use for distal radius fractures. The authors compared perioperative variables and clinical outcomes for volar plating for distal radius fractures with WALANT vs general anesthesia with tourniquet. This retrospective study included 47 patients who presented with distal radius fractures between January 2015 and February 2017. Twenty-one underwent surgical volar plating with WALANT, and 26 underwent surgical volar plating with general anesthesia with tourniquet. Patients were followed for 12 months. The 2 groups were compared regarding perioperative parameters and clinical outcomes, including perioperative field pain evaluated by visual analog scale score on postoperative day 1, range of motion 12 months postoperatively, and Mayo wrist score. The WALANT group had a lower mean visual analog scale score and a shorter mean hospitalization (both P<.001), but greater mean blood loss (P<.001). No significant differences were found regarding operative time (P=.214) or time to union (P=.180). At 12-month follow-up, no significant differences were found regarding wrist extension (P=.721), wrist flexion (P=.119), or Mayo wrist score (P=.223). Although both techniques permitted volar plating for distal radius fractures, WALANT allowed immediate intervention and led to less postoperative pain and shorter hospitalization. Although control of blood loss was worse with WALANT, blood loss was limited to a mean of 22.62 mL and did not interfere with the surgical field. [Orthopedics. 2019; 42(1):e93-e98.].

WALANT for distal radius fracture: open reduction with plating fixation via wide-awake local anesthesia with no tourniquet.

BACKGROUND: The wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique is applied during various hand surgeries. We investigated the perioperative variables and clinical outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for distal radius fractures under WALANT. METHODS: From January 2015 to January 2017, 60 patients with distal radius fractures were treated, and 24 patients (40% of all) were treated with either a volar or a dorsal plate via WALANT procedure. Of these 24 patients, 21 radius fractures were fixed with a volar plate, and the other 3 were fixed with a dorsal plate. Radiographs; range of motions; visual analog scale (VAS); quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (Quick DASH) questionnaire; and time to union were evaluated. RESULTS: One of the 24 patients could not tolerate the WALANT procedure and was reported as a failed attempt at WALANT. In the cohort, 23 patients successfully received distal radius ORIF under WALANT procedure. The average age is 60.9 (range, 20-88) years. The average operation time was 64.3 (range, 45-85) minutes, the average blood loss was 18.9 (range, 5-30) ml, and the average of duration of hospitalization is 1.8 (range, 1-6) days. The average postoperative day one VAS was 1.6 (range, 1-3). The average time of union was 20.7 (range, 15-32) weeks. The mean follow-up period was 15.1 (range, 12-24) months. Functional 1-year postoperative outcomes revealed an average Quick DASH score of 7.60 (range, 4.5-13.6) and an average wrist flexion and extension of 69.6° (range, 55-80°) and 57.4° (range, 45-70°). There was no wound infection, neurovascular injury, or other major complication noted. CONCLUSIONS: WALANT for distal radius fracture ORIF is a method to control blood loss by the effects of local anesthesia mixed with hemostatic agents. Without a tourniquet, the procedure prevents discomfort caused by tourniquet pain. Without sedation, patients could perform the active range of motion of the injured wrist to check if there is impingement of implants. It eliminates the need of numerous preoperative examinations, postoperative anesthesia recovery room care, and side effects of the sedation. However, patients who are not amenable to the awake procedure are contraindications.