A comprehensive review of epinephrine in the finger: to do or not to do

The Canadian Model for Instituting Wide-Awake Hand Surgery in Our Hospitals

Clinic-based hand surgery performed under local anesthetic has been steadily increasingly performed in Canada for 50 years. The drive for its development stems from the Canadian health care system's finite funding structure and resources. Benefits have extended far beyond cost and garbage reduction. It has resulted in greatly improving patient care by increasing comfort and safety with the elimination of sedation, the tourniquet, night surgery, and by improving access to care. This article details the rationale and development of clinic-based hand surgery from a Canadian perspective and provides tips and strategies for other centers looking to implement a similar clinic.

Wide-Awake Anesthesia in the In-Office Procedure Room: Lessons Learned

BACKGROUND

Wide-awake local anesthesia and no tourniquet (WALANT) has become more popular in hand surgery. Without a tourniquet, there is no need for preoperative testing or sedation. The use of lidocaine with epinephrine has allowed a larger variety of cases to be done safely in an outpatient setting instead of the hospital. "Minor field sterility," which uses fewer drapes and tools to accomplish the same procedures, is a concept that is also gaining recognition.

METHODS

Investigation of hand surgeons performing a majority of cases using WALANT and minor field sterility was the beginning of seeing its potential at our institution. Administration was concerned about patient safety, cost-effectiveness, and patient satisfaction of the proposed changes. Analysis of our institution to determine location of these procedures was also imperative to using WALANT.

RESULTS

An in-office procedure room was built to allow for WALANT and minor field sterility. The requirements and logistics of developing an in-office procedure room for wide-awake surgery are reviewed in this article.

CONCLUSIONS

The concurrent use of WALANT and minor field sterility has created a hand surgery practice that is cost-effective for the patient and the facility and resulted in excellent patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Comparison of the Cost and Efficacy of Axillary Anesthesia and Wide-Awake Anesthesia in Finger Surgeries

Objectives

Wide-awake anesthesia is a type of local anesthesia consisting of a combined application of lidocaine, epinephrine, and bicarbonate and has a wide potential in hand surgery as it offers the advantage of being applied without sedation and without using a tourniquet. In light of recent studies, its use has increased with the disappearance of the belief among surgeons that epinephrine can cause circulatory disturbance in fingers.

Methods

Patients with finger pathologies who were operated upon at the Baltalimani Bone Diseases Teaching and Research Hospital between January 2015 and February 2016 were divided into two groups according to anesthesia type: wide-awake anesthesia and axillary block anesthesia, with 52 patients in each group. Start time of surgery, length of hospital stay, anesthesia cost, and patient satisfaction were compared. For the evaluation of patient satisfaction, the patients were postoperatively asked whether they would accept the same anesthesia method if they had to have the same experience. Each group was further divided into two subgroups: bone interventions (phalangeal fracture, bone biopsy, implant removal, and interphalangeal joint arthrodesis) and soft tissue interventions (digital nerve repair, fingertip local skin flap, flap division, releasing stiff joint, ligament repair, and debridment). Each subgroup included 26 patients.

Results

Sufficient anesthesia to cover the whole duration of surgery was achieved in both the groups. Regarding the question "If you were experiencing the same experience, would you accept the same anesthesia again?" 26 and 33 patients responded positively, 16 and 7 patients repsonded negatively, and 10 and 12 patients remained neutral in the axillary block and wide-awake anesthesia groups, respectively. According to the Social Security Institution data, the average anesthesia cost was 316.1 TL in the axillary block anesthesia group and 25.3 TL in the wide-awake anesthesia group; the average length of hospital stay was 32.9 h in the former and 13.6 h in the latter. Start time of surgery was 34 minutes in axillary block anesthesia and 5.3 minutes in wide-awake anesthesia.

Conclusion

We found that compared with axillary block anesthesia, the length of hospital stay was 19.3 h less and anesthesia cost was 290.8 TL less with wide-awake anesthesia; furthermore, the start time of surgery decreased by 29.7 min with the latter. Moreover, patient satisfaction rate was better in the wide-awake anesthesia group. No bleeding, patient incompatibility, and other complications that might interfere with the surgery were detected .

[Wide awake hand surgery based on application examples]

OBJECTIVE

Anesthesiologic method with low bleeding level, risk level, and complication rate for surgical procedures on the hand without a tourniquet on an unsedated patient with the possibility for functional testing during surgery.

INDICATIONS

Surgical procedures of the hand can be carried out using the wide awake technique depending on the patient's suitability and preference considering individual risk factors.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Absolute contraindications are allergies to the local anesthetic or its components. Relative contraindications are severe hepatic or renal insufficiency, infections in the injection area, acute circulatory disorders, or higher cardiac function impairment.

INJECTION TECHNIQUE

Infiltration of a lidocaine/epinephrine mixture with 8.4% sodium bicarbonate in a ratio of 10:1.5 at least 30 min prior to surgery. Perpendicular puncture of the skin and slow injection. Continue injection until reaching a pale skin area of at least 1 cm around the entire operating area. If the needle tip always remains in a cushion of local anesthetic, a "hole-in-one" anesthesia can be achieved (only the first needle puncture is felt).

POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT

Elevated care and awareness for numb body parts by the patient because of impaired sensation. Follow-up treatment according to the surgeon's specifications. Postoperative use of painkillers.

RESULTS

Of 38 patients, 32 felt that the procedure was not stressful, 6 rated it as a bit stressful. Pain perception on a visual analog scale (0 = no pain, 10 = severe pain) scored an average of 1.6 during infiltration, 0.5 during the operation, 3.5 during the reduction of the anesthesia, and 2.9 on the following day. All patients would undergo surgery again using the wide awake technique.

Use of Wide-awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet in Hand and Wrist Surgery

WALANT (wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet) appears to be a safe and effective anesthesia technique for many hand and wrist surgeries. Patient satisfaction is high because of the avoidance of preoperative testing and hospital admission. Postoperative recovery is rapid, and procedures can be done in outpatient settings, resulting in substantial savings in time and money.

Conceptual origins, current practice, and views of wide awake hand surgery

This article reviews historical background, essential practice principles, and the new emerging area of wide awake hand surgery. It outlines the reasons that wide awake, local anaesthesia, no tourniquet surgery has emerged so quickly in the last 10 years over the world. I explain the origin of the concepts and some of the challenges of getting the technique accepted; in particular, the debunking of the myth of epinephrine danger in the finger. I review the most recent developments in several operations in this rapidly changing field of the tourniquet-free approach. Finally, this review includes speculations on the future of this technique.

Wide Awake Hand Surgery

Background: “Wide awake hand surgery”, where surgery is performed in local anaesthesia with adrenaline, without sedation or a tourniquet, has become widespread in some countries. It has a number of potential advantages and we wished to evaluate it among our patients.

Methods: All 122 patients treated by this method during one year were evaluated by the surgeons and the patients on a numerical scale from 0 (best/least) to 10 (worst/most). Theatre time was compared to that recorded for a year when regional or general anaesthesia had been used.

Results: The patients’ mean score for the general care they had received was 0.1 (SD 0.6), for pain during lidocaine injection 2.4 (SD 2.2), for pain during surgery 0.9 (SD 1.5), and for other discomfort during surgery 0.5 (SD 1.4). Eight reported that they would want general anaesthesia if they were to be operated again. The surgeons’ mean evaluation of bleeding during surgery was 1.6 (SD 1.8), oedema during surgery 0.4 (SD 1.1), general disadvantages with the method 1.0 (SD 1.6) and general advantages 6.5 (SD 4.3). The estimation of advantages was 9.9 (DS 0.5) for tendon suture. 28 patients needed intra-operative additional anaesthesia. The proportion was lower among trained hand surgeons and fell significantly during the study period. Non-surgical theatre time was 46 (SD 15) minutes during the study period and 55 (SD 22) minutes during the regional/general period (p < 0.001). This gain was cancelled out by a longer surgery time during the wide awake period.

Conclusions: Wide awake surgery is fully acceptable to most patients. It has a number of advantages over general or regional anaesthesia, but we feel it is unlikely to improve the efficiency of the operating theatre.

Is it safe to use local anesthesia with adrenaline in hand surgery? WALANT technique

In the past it was taught that local anesthetic should not be used with adrenaline for procedures in the extremities. This dogma is transmitted from generation to generation. Its truth has not been questioned, nor the source of the doubt. In many situations the benefit of use was not understood, because it was often thought that it was not necessary to prolong the anesthetic effect, since the procedures were mostly of short duration. After the disclosure of studies of Canadian surgeons, came to understand that the benefits went beyond the time of anesthesia. The WALANT technique allows a surgical field without bleeding, possibility of information exchange with the patient during the procedure, reduction of waste material, reduction of costs, and improvement of safety. Thus, after passing through the initial phase of the doubts in the use of this technique, the authors verified its benefits and the patients’ satisfaction in being able to immediately return home after the procedures.

Delayed-Onset Digital Ischemia After Local Anesthetic With Epinephrine Injection Requiring Phentolamine Reversal

The use of low-dose epinephrine in hand surgery has made it possible to perform a wide range of surgical procedures in the office setting. Low-dose epinephrine use is safe, and its vasoconstrictive effects are reversible with phentolamine. In this report, we present late-onset finger ischemia beginning 3 hours after an ipsilateral carpal tunnel and A1 pulley release of the middle finger anesthetized with local anesthetic and low-dose epinephrine (1:100,000). Finger ischemia lasted 14 hours until rescued with phentolamine injection.

Post-traumatic Digital Gangrene Associated with Epinephrine Use in Primary Raynaud's Phenomenon: Lesson for the Future

Background

Following digital surgical procedures, the ensuing post-operative course may be complicated by the presence of underlying ischaemic or vasospastic process. In the presence of such conditions, post-operative ischaemic changes may be further exacerbated with the use of local anaesthetics in combination with epinephrine.

Case Details

We report a 21 year-old female who presented with an amputated fifth digit due to a rapidly spreading gangrene which started immediately after the surgical repair of a traumatic laceration which was infiltrated with a pre-mixed solution of lignocaine and epinephrine 3 hours earlier. The patient's final diagnosis was epinephrine-associated digital gangrene in the background of primary Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP).

Conclusion

The author reports this case in order to reiterate the importance of thorough clinical evaluation prior to the use of epinephrine in digital anaesthesia as well as to increase awareness on how primary RP can be complicated by gangrene.

Dermatologic surgery emergencies: Complications caused by systemic reactions, high-energy systems, and trauma

While the overall incidence of emergencies in dermatologic surgery is low, emergent situations can occasionally pose a risk to patients undergoing such procedures. The clinical importance of several types of emergences related to systemic reactions, high energy systems, and trauma are reviewed, and relevant epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, work-up, management, and prevention are discussed. Early detection of surgical emergencies can mitigate any associated adverse outcomes, thereby allowing the outstanding record of safety of dermatologic surgery to continue.

A Review of Local Anesthetics: Minimizing Risk and Side Effects in Cutaneous Surgery

BACKGROUND

The specialty of dermatology relies heavily on local anesthesia for diagnosis and management of skin disease. The appropriate selection, preparation, administration, and monitoring of these medications affect surgical outcome and patient safety and satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE

To perform a comprehensive literature review of the side effects and risks associated with local anesthetics used in cutaneous surgery. Current recommendations to reduce risk and minimize side effects are reviewed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive review of the English-language medical literature search was performed.

RESULTS

No current review articles of the side effects and risks of local anesthetics were identified. This review serves to discuss local anesthetics commonly used in dermatology and cutaneous surgery along with practical information regarding prevention of adverse outcomes and addressing local and systemic reactions when they arise.

CONCLUSION

Local anesthetics commonly used in cutaneous surgery have potential risks and side effects. Appropriate selection and utilization of local anesthetics and knowledge of the means to prevent and address these risks can impact surgical outcomes, patient satisfaction and safety, and ultimately patient experience in the dermatology clinic.

Digital Necrosis After Lidocaine and Epinephrine Injection in the Flexor Tendon Sheath Without Phentolamine Rescue

The literature generally supports the safety of epinephrine injection in the digits, but recent case reports describe ischemic adverse events associated with the use of lidocaine and epinephrine in which phentolamine rescue was not performed. We present a case of finger necrosis and subsequent amputation in a patient after 1% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine was injected in the fat and flexor sheaths in the palm for a 3-finger trigger release. Phentolamine rescue was not performed. All surgeons who use epinephrine in the finger should be prepared to reverse vasoconstriction with phentolamine rescue if there is persistently inadequate perfusion of the fingertip.

Dermatologic Manifestations of the Lower Extremity: Nail Surgery

Nail surgery is a fundamental component of podiatric surgery. Nail disorders are common and may cause significant morbidity and occasionally mortality. Diagnosis of inflammatory and infectious conditions, and of benign or malignant tumors, often requires a biopsy of the nail unit. Excisional surgery may also be curative for certain tumors. This article reviews key elements of nail anatomy, surgical preparation, local anesthesia, and methods to achieve and maintain a bloodless field. A familiarity with these concepts should allow clinicians to develop a surgical plan and approach when patients present with a nail disorder requiring biopsy or surgical treatment.

Identifying and Managing Local Anesthetic Allergy in Dermatologic Surgery

BACKGROUND

Local anesthetic (LA) allergy is a concern for dermatologic surgeons given the large number of procedures performed yearly with LAs. Many patients also have anxiety about past or potential anesthesia allergy.

OBJECTIVE

This article will review the symptoms of IgE-mediated allergic reactions, the prevalence of IgE-mediated LA allergy, discuss common mimics of LA, and propose a practical approach for diagnostic and therapeutic options for LA allergy for the dermatologic surgeon in practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search of Pubmed using keywords "lidocaine," "local anesthetic," "hypersensitivity," and "allergy" was performed.

RESULTS

Amide anesthetics result in the most reports of true local anesthetic immediate hypersensitivity.

CONCLUSION

True IgE-mediated anaphylaxis to local anesthesia is very rare. Dermatologic surgeons should be aware of the symptoms of anesthetic allergy and its mimickers, as well as how to manage allergic reactions in their clinical practice.

Guidelines for the use of local anesthesia in office-based dermatologic surgery

There are an increasing number and variety of dermatologic surgical procedures performed safely in the office setting. This evidence-based guideline addresses important clinical questions that arise regarding the use and safety of local anesthesia for dermatologic office-based procedures. In addition to recommendations for dermatologists, this guideline also takes into account patient preferences while optimizing their safety and quality of care. The clinical recommendations presented here are based on the best evidence available as well as expert opinion.

Digital block with or without the addition of epinephrine in the anesthetic solution

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Review of various techniques for digital blocks with local anesthetic, with or without epinephrine.

CONTENTS

Description of various procedures and comparison of results reported in the literature, mainly on latency and quality of anesthesia, details on vasoconstrictor effect of epinephrine, intraoperative bleeding, necessity of tourniquet use, duration of anesthesia and postoperative analgesia, blood flow and digital SpO2 behavior, local and systemic complications, and also approaches and drugs to be used in certain situations of ischemia.

CONCLUSIONS

The advantages of adding epinephrine to the anesthetic solution are minor when compared to the risks of the procedure, and it seems dangerous to use a vasoconstrictor in the fingers, unless the safety of the technique and the possibility of discarding the tourniquet are definitely proven.

Evaluation of surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome using local anesthesia

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the results and complications from surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome by means of an open route, using a local anesthesia technique comprising use of a solution of lidocaine, epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a cohort study conducted through evaluating the medical files of 16 patients who underwent open surgery to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, with use of local anesthesia consisting of 20 mL of 1% lidocaine, adrenaline at 1:100,000 and 2 mL of sodium bicarbonate. The DASH scores before the operation and six months after the operation were evaluated. Comparisons were made regarding the intensity of pain at the time of applying the anesthetic and during the surgical procedure, and in relation to other types of procedure.

RESULTS

The DASH score improved from 65.17 to 16.53 six months after the operation (p < 0.01). In relation to the anesthesia, 75% of the patients reported that this technique was better than or the same as venous puncture and 81% reported that it was better than a dental procedure. Intraoperative pain occurred in two cases. There were no occurrences of ischemia.

CONCLUSION

Use of local anesthesia for surgically treating carpal tunnel syndrome is effective for performing the procedure and for the final result.

Linear Hand Burn Contracture Release under Local Anesthesia without Tourniquet

The objective of this report is to present a case of hand burn linear contracture release performed under local anesthesia. It also introduces the one-per-mil tumescent solution consisted of 0.2% lidocaine and 1:1.000.000 epinephrine as a local anesthesia formula, which has the potential of providing adequate anesthesia as well as hemostatic effect during surgery of the hand without tourniquet. The surgery was performed on a 19 year-old male patient with multiple thumb and fingers flexion linear contracture for 105 minutes without any obstacle. The patient did not complain any pain and discomfort during the procedure; while bloodless operative field was successfully achieved. At four-month follow up, the patient could fully extend his thumb, middle and ring finger, while the index was limited by 10° at the DIP joint. Overall, the patient was satisfied with the outcome.

Pain management strategies in hand surgery

Modern anesthetic agents have allowed for the rapid expansion of ambulatory surgery, particularly in hand surgery. The choice between general anesthesia, peripheral regional blocks, regional intravenous anesthesia (Bier block), local block with sedation, and the recently popularized wide-awake hand surgery depends on several variables, including the type and duration of the procedure and patient characteristics, coexisting conditions, location, and expected length of the procedure. This article discusses the various perioperative and postoperative analgesic options to optimize the hand surgical patients' experience.

Buffered lidocaine and bupivacaine mixture - the ideal local anesthetic solution?

The use of injectable local anesthetic solutions to facilitate pain-free surgery is an integral component of many procedures performed by the plastic surgeon. In many instances, a solution that has both rapid onset and prolonged duration of analgesia is optimal. A combination of lidocaine and bupivacaine, plain or with epinephrine, is readily available in most Canadian health care settings where such procedures are performed, and fulfills these criteria. However, commercially available solutions of both medications are acidic and cause a burning sensation on injection. Buffering to neutral pH with sodium bicarbonate is a practical method to mitigate the burning sensation, and has the added benefit of increasing the fraction of nonionized lipid soluble drug available. The authors report on the proportions of the three drugs to yield a neutral pH, and the results of an initial survey regarding the use of the combined solution with epinephrine in hand surgery.

[Digital block with or without the addition of epinephrine in the anesthetic solution]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Review of various techniques for digital blocks with local anesthetic, with or without epinephrine.

CONTENTS

Description of various procedures and comparison of results reported in the literature, mainly on latency and quality of anesthesia, details on vasoconstrictor effect of epinephrine, intraoperative bleeding, necessity of tourniquet use, duration of anesthesia and postoperative analgesia, blood flow and digital SpO2 behavior, local and systemic complications, and also approaches and drugs to be used in certain situations of ischemia.

CONCLUSIONS

The advantages of adding epinephrine to the anesthetic solution are minor when compared to the risks of the procedure, and it seems dangerous to use a vasoconstrictor in the fingers, unless the safety of the technique and the possibility of discarding the tourniquet are definitely proven.

Emerging therapies for the treatment of ungual onychomycosis

INTRODUCTION

Onychomycosis, a common fungal infection in the finger and toe nails, affects approximately 2-8% of the worldwide population. Fungal infection is more complicated in those who suffer from conditions, such as diabetes, peripheral vascular diseases and compromised immune diseases.

AREA COVERED

Onychomycosis treatment has been classified on the basis of location of infection in the toes and fingers and infectious agents (dermatophytes fungi, yeast and non-dermatophyte molds). In this review, the available therapies (traditional and device based) and their limitations for the treatment of onychomycosis have been discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

The success rate with topical nail products has been minimal. The main reason for this poor success rate could be attributed to the lack of complete understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease and clinical pharmacokinetic data of drugs in the infected nail apparatus.

Does adjusting the pH of lidocaine reduce pain during injection?

BACKGROUND

Receiving local anaestethic injection is painful. A double-blinded randomised study with 32 healthy adult volunteers was performed, with the aim of investigating the effect of buffering lidocaine to reduce the pain during injection.

METHODS

Each participant received two subcutaneous injections of 4.5 ml lidocaine 1% on the lower left and right quadrants of the abdomen. One solution was plain lidocaine (pH 6.55) and the other was lidocaine buffered with sodium bicarbonate in a ratio of 9:1 (pH 7.30). After each injection the participant marked the pain experienced during the injection on a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0 = best, 100 = worst), in addition to verbally stating which injection they found was the least painful.

RESULTS

A total of 20 stated that they preferred the buffered solution, while eight said that they preferred the unbuffered solution (p < 0.002). The mean VAS pain-score was 15 (SD = 12) for the buffered injections and 20 (SD = 12) for the unbuffered injections (p < 0.017).

CONCLUSION

The conclusion is that the pain experienced during the injection of lidocaine can be significantly reduced by buffering the solution before injection.

Epinephrine in digital blocks: refuting dogma

In the medical community there is a widely held belief that epinephrine should not be used with lidocaine when attempting a digital block because it will cause tissue gangrene. This belief is reinforced by several of the more prominent emergency textbooks, but a review of the medical literature fails to reveal a sound basis for this dogma.

Buffered lidocaine and bupivacaine mixture -the ideal local anesthetic solution?

The use of injectable local anesthetic solutions to facilitate pain-free surgery is an integral component of many procedures performed by the plastic surgeon. In many instances, a solution that has both rapid onset and prolonged duration of analgesia is optimal. A combination of lidocaine and bupivacaine, plain or with epinephrine, is readily available in most Canadian health care settings where such procedures are performed, and fulfills these criteria. However, commercially available solutions of both medications are acidic and cause a burning sensation on injection. Buffering to neutral pH with sodium bicarbonate is a practical method to mitigate the burning sensation, and has the added benefit of increasing the fraction of nonionized lipid soluble drug available. The authors report on the proportions of the three drugs to yield a neutral pH, and the results of an initial survey regarding the use of the combined solution with epinephrine in hand surgery.

One-per-mil tumescent technique for bone and joint surgery in hand

BACKGROUND

This study aims to explore the effectiveness of one-per-mil tumescent technique in hand surgery, which involves bone and joint.

METHODS

This is a case series study on 14 patients with 15 operative fields. One-per-mil solution is formulated by mixing 0.05 mL of 1:1,000 epinephrine and 100 mg lidocaine in 50-mL saline solution. The solution was injected subcutaneously into the operative area until the skin turned pale. The surgery started 7-10 min after the last injection. We classified the operative field clarity into four categories: totally bloodless, minimum bleeding, acceptable bleeding, and bloody operative field. We also recorded the amount of tumescent solution, top-ups needed, length of surgery, type of anesthesia, and intraoperative pain reported by the patients under local anesthesia.

RESULTS

Five patients were operated on under local anesthesia while the other ten were under general anesthesia. Eight cases yielded totally bloodless operative fields, while seven were classified as acceptable bleeding. There were no top-ups and conversion of anesthesia needed during surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

We consider one-per-mil tumescent technique as a promising successor of pneumatic tourniquet in bone and joint surgery, especially for lengthy procedures on hand and upper extremity.

Retrospective Analysis of the One-per-Million Tumescent Technique in Post-Burn Hand Deformity Surgeries

BACKGROUND

The use of a tourniquet in hand surgery is generally accepted as necessary to create a clear visualization of the operative field. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of one-per-million tumescent solution (1:1,000,000 epinephrine concentration) in creating a bloodless operative field in post-burn hand deformity surgeries performed without a tourniquet.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study was conducted on a series of 12 patients with post-burn hand deformities who underwent surgery between February 2013 and January 2014. A total of 29 operative fields were recorded. The one-per-million tumescent solution was used for hemostatis instead of a tourniquet. The clarity of the operative field, volume of solution injected, duration of surgery, scar thickness and density, and functional outcomes at least three months after the surgery were observed. The relationship of scar thickness and density with the clarity of the operative field was analyzed with the chi-square test.

RESULTS

Of the 29 operative fields in which the one-per-million tumescent technique was used, 48.2% were totally bloodless, 44.8% had minimal bleeding, and 6.9% had an acceptable level of bleeding. Both scar thickness and density were shown to have a significant relationship with operative field clarity (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The one-per-million tumescent technique is effective in facilitating post-burn hand deformity surgeries involving meticulous, multiple, and lengthy procedures by creating a relatively clear operative field without the use of a tourniquet. Although scar thickness and density are associated with the clarity of the operative field, this technique can be considered safe and effective in creating a clear operative field.

Surgical and therapy update on the management of Dupuytren's disease

Advancements in surgical and therapy management for Dupuytren's disease are highlighted. Indications for treatment and various surgical options for Dupuytren's disease are described. Non-surgical techniques are also presented. Therapy interventions are reviewed. Treatment techniques for the management of secondary problems resulting from prolonged digit flexion are presented. The benefits, limitations and outcomes of treatments are reviewed to assist the reader to link patient specific problems and goals to the most appropriate treatment choice.

Use of adrenalin with lidocaine in hand surgery

OBJECTIVE

Because of the received wisdom within our setting that claims that local anesthesia should not be used with adrenalin in hand surgery; we conducted a study using lidocaine with adrenalin, to demonstrate its safety, utility and efficacy.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective study in which, in wrist, hand and finger surgery performed from July 2012 onwards, we used local anesthesia comprising a 1% lidocaine solution with adrenalin at 1:100,000. We evaluated the quantity of bleeding, systemic alterations, signs of arterial deficit and complications, among other parameters. We described the infiltration techniques for specific procedures individually.

RESULTS

We operated on 41 patients and chose to describe separately the raising of a lateral microsurgical flap on the arm, which was done without excessive bleeding and within the usual length of time. In only three cases was there excessive bleeding or use of bipolar tweezers. No systemic alterations were observed by the anesthesiologists or any complications relating to ischemia and necrosis in the wounds or in the fingers, and use of tourniquets was not necessary in any case.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of lidocaine with adrenalin in hand surgery was shown to be a safe local anesthetic technique, without complications relating to necrosis. It provided efficient exsanguination of the surgical field and made it possible to perform the surgical procedures without using a pneumatic tourniquet, thereby avoiding its risks and benefiting the patient through lower sedation.

Partial fingertip necrosis following a digital surgical procedure in a patient with primary Raynaud's phenomenon

Raynaud's phenomenon is a common clinical disorder consisting of recurrent, long-lasting and episodic vasospasm of the fingers and toes often associated with exposure to cold. In this article, we present a case of partial fingertip necrosis following digital surgical procedure in a patient with primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

Tumescent local anesthesia for hand surgery: improved results, cost effectiveness, and wide-awake patient satisfaction

This is a review article of the wide-awake approach to hand surgery. More than 95% of all hand surgery can now be performed without a tourniquet. Epinephrine is injected with lidocaine for hemostasis and anesthesia instead of a tourniquet and sedation. This is sedation-free surgery, much like a visit to a dental office. The myth of danger of using epinephrine in the finger is reviewed. The wide awake technique is greatly improving results in tendon repair, tenolysis, and tendon transfer. Here, we will explain its advantages.

Update/Review: changing of use of local anesthesia in the hand

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Summary:

Among the many advances in local anesthesia of the hand, some of the most significant changes in the last 5 years have been the following: (1) the acceptance of safety of locally infiltrated epinephrine with lidocaine for hemostasis, which has removed the need for sedation, brachial plexus blocks, and general anesthesia for most common hand surgery operations and minor hand trauma. (2) The elimination of the 2 injection finger block technique in favor of the single injection palmar block. (3) Local anesthesia can now be consistently injected in the hand with minimal pain. (4) Liposomal release of local anesthetic after injection into the surgical site can provide pain control up to 3 days. This article reviews the impact and best evidence related to these changes.

Comparison of local anesthetics for digital nerve blocks: a systematic review

PURPOSE

To evaluate the time to onset of anesthesia, duration of anesthesia, and pain on injection of local anesthetics.

METHODS

A systematic search of the English literature was performed of the Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, The Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. The study selection process was adapted from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement, and 6 articles were complied with the study inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Six studies (335 nerve blocks) were included in our final analysis measuring 6 local anesthetic preparations (lidocaine, lidocaine with epinephrine, bupivacaine, bupivacaine with epinephrine, lidocaine with bupivacaine, and ropivacaine). Lidocaine demonstrated the shortest mean onset of anesthesia (3.1 min) and bupivacaine the longest (7.6 min). Lidocaine also demonstrated the shortest mean duration of anesthesia (1.8 h) and ropivacaine the longest mean duration (21.5 h). Lidocaine with epinephrine demonstrated the least mean pain on injection (26 mm on a visual analog scale) and bupivacaine with epinephrine the most mean pain (53 mm).

CONCLUSIONS

Lidocaine with epinephrine provides a good short-term anesthesia and may reduce the risk of injury or complication while the finger in still anesthetized. Bupivacaine with lidocaine provides good long-term anesthesia and may reduce the need for postprocedural anesthesia. Ropivacaine likely provides the longest duration of anesthesia but the absence of epinephrine means a tourniquet must be used to create a bloodless field and thus is contraindicated in some procedures such as flexor tendon repairs where active testing may be required.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Lidocaine with epinephrine, bupivacaine with epinephrine, and ropivacaine all provide benefits in digital nerve blocks. The surgeon may choose the most appropriate local anesthetic or combination of local anesthetics based on the procedure to be undertaken and the postoperative requirements.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic II.

Biologic response of local hemostatic agents used in endodontic microsurgery

Appropriate use of local hemostatic agent is one of the important factors on the prognosis of endodontic microsurgery. However, most investigations to date focus on the hemostatic efficacy of the agents, whereas their biologic characteristics have not received enough attention. The purpose of this paper was to review the biologic response of local hemostatic agents, and to provide clinical guidelines on their use during endodontic microsurgery. Electronic database (PUBMED) was screened to search related studies from 1980 to 2013, and 8 clinical studies and 18 animal studies were identified. Among the materials used in these studies, most widely-investigated and used materials, epinephrine, ferric sulfate (FS) and calcium sulfate (CS), were thoroughly discussed. Influence of these materials on local tissue and systemic condition, such as inflammatory and foreign body reaction, local ischemia, dyspigmentation, delayed or enhanced bone and soft tissue healing, and potential cardiovascular complications were assessed. Additionally, biological property of their carrier materials, cotton pellet and absorbable collagen, were also discussed. Clinicians should be aware of the biologic properties of local hemostatic agents and their carrier materials, and should pay attention to the potential complications when using them in endodontic microsurgery.

Clinical results for use of local anesthesia with epinephrine in penile nerve block

BACKGROUND

It is widely accepted that local anesthetics with epinephrine should not be used in areas served by terminal vessels. There is no evidence in studies for this in penile surgery, and given the anatomy of the penis, perfusion complications are highly unlikely. The goal of this study was to show that a penile block using a local anesthetic with epinephrine is safe.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a follow-up study between 2005 and 2010, we analyzed 95 patients who got a penile ring block with subcutaneous infusion anesthesia (SIA). The SIA solution consisted of ropivacaine and lidocaine (0.11% and 0.21%) plus epinephrine.

RESULTS

There were no anesthetic complications. Short-term negative postoperative occurrences (<72 hrs.) were swelling (42%), problems with suture material (22%), pain (19%), hematoma and paresthesia (each 13%), erectile dysfunction (12%), small-area skin necrosis after wound healing without requiring further surgery (13%), micturition disorders (7%), and wound infection (6%). Two patients on anticoagulation therapy had postoperative bleeding requiring revision surgery. 5% of the patients were given further analgesic sedation. 19% complained about postoperative pain. Persistent complaints (maximum 6 months) were disturbances of skin sensation (7%), swelling (4%), and redness and micturition disorders (3% each).

CONCLUSIONS

Supplementing a local anesthetic with epinephrine in penis operations has many advantages, including high patient satisfaction, relatively painless infiltration, low complication rates, improved view of the operating field, and an extended effect of anesthetics with a prolonged reduction in pain. Because of the anatomy of the organ, there is no risk of necrosis related to using a subcutaneous penile ring block. Thus the view that epinephrine should not be used in penis procedures is obsolete.

Flexor tendon repair, rehabilitation, and reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Flexor tendon injury is a common problem that plastic surgeons are called on to treat. Despite their common nature, they present a challenge, not necessarily in the surgical treatment per se but in the ability to achieve a "normal" finger as the end result. Because of the difficulty in attaining good outcomes, much continues to be studied and written about flexor tendon injury.

METHODS

The current literature on flexor tendon repair, rehabilitation, and reconstruction is reviewed.

RESULTS

Aspects reviewed include type of anesthesia, suture material and configuration, repairs in the different flexor tendon zones, types of tendon rehabilitation, complications of flexor tendon surgery, and flexor tendon reconstruction.

CONCLUSION

This review provides an update on the current standards in the treatment of flexor tendon injury.

Management of extravasation injuries: a focused evaluation of noncytotoxic medications

Extravasations are common manifestations of iatrogenic injury that occur in patients requiring intravenous delivery of known vesicants. These injuries can contribute substantially to patient morbidity, cost of therapy, and length of stay. Many different mechanisms are behind the tissue damage during extravasation injuries. In general, extravasations consist of four different subtypes of tissue injury: vasoconstriction, osmotic, pH related, and cytotoxic. Recognition of high-risk patients, appropriate cannulation technique, and monitoring of higher risk materials remain the standard of care for the prevention of extravasation injury. Prompt interdisciplinary action is often necessary for the treatment of extravasation injuries. Knowledge of the mechanism of extravasation-induced tissue injury, agents for reversal, and appropriate nonpharmacologic treatment methods is essential. The best therapeutic agent for treatment of vasopressor extravasation is intradermal phentolamine. Topical vasodilators and intradermal terbutaline may provide relief. Intradermal hyaluronidase has been effective for hyperosmotic extravasations, although its use largely depends on the risk of tissue injury and the severity of extravasation. Among the hyperosmotic agents, calcium extravasation is distinctive because it may present as an acute tissue injury or may possess delayed clinical manifestations. Extravasation of acidic or basic materials can produce significant tissue damage. Phenytoin is the prototypical basic drug that causes a clinical manifestation known as purple glove syndrome (PGS). This syndrome is largely managed through preventive and conservative treatment measures. Promethazine is acidic and can cause a devastating extravasation, particularly if administered inadvertently through the arteriolar route. Systemic heparin therapy remains the accepted treatment option for intraarteriolar administration of promethazine. Overall, the evidence for managing extravasations due to noncytotoxic medications is nonexistent or limited to case reports. More research is needed to improve knowledge of patient risk, prompt recognition of the extravasation, and time course for tissue injury, and to develop prevention and treatment strategies for extravasation injuries.

One-per-mil tumescent technique for upper extremity surgeries: broadening the indication

PURPOSE

We studied the effect of 1:1,000,000 epinephrine concentration (1 per mil) to attain a bloodless operative field in hand and upper extremity surgery and to explore its effectiveness and safety profile.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study enrolled 45 consecutive patients with 63 operative fields consisting of various hand and upper extremity problems. One-per-mil solution was injected into the operative field with tumescent technique to create a bloodless operating field without tourniquet. The solution was formulated by adding a 1:1,000,000 concentration of epinephrine and 100 mg of lidocaine into saline solution to form 50 mL of tumescent solution. Observation was performed on the clarity of the operative field, which we described as totally bloodless, minimal bleeding, acceptable bleeding, or bloody. The volume of tumescent solution injected, duration of surgery, and surgical outcome were also reviewed.

RESULTS

The tumescent technique with 1-per-mil solution achieved 29% totally bloodless, 48% minimal bleeding, 22% acceptable bleeding, and 2% bloody operative fields in cases that included burn contracture and congenital hand and upper extremity surgeries.

CONCLUSIONS

One-per-mil tumescent solution created a clear operative field in hand and upper extremity surgery. It proved safe and effective for a wide range of indications.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic IV.

Minimizing the pain of local anesthesia injection

BACKGROUND

Local anesthetic injection is often cited in literature as the most painful part of minor procedures. It is also very possible for all doctors to get better at giving local anesthesia with less pain for patients. The purpose of this article is to illustrate and simplify how to inject local anesthesia in an almost pain-free manner.

METHODS

The information was obtained from reviewing the best evidence, from an extensive review of the literature (from 1950 to August of 2012) and from the experience gained by asking over 500 patients to score injectors by reporting the number of times they felt pain during the injection process.

RESULTS

The results are summarized in a logical stepwise pattern mimicking the procedural steps of an anesthetic injection-beginning with solution selection and preparation, followed by equipment choices, patient education, topical site preparation, and finally procedural techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

There are now excellent techniques for minimizing anesthetic injection pain, with supporting evidence varying from anecdotal to systematic reviews. Medical students and residents can easily learn techniques that reliably limit the pain of local anesthetic injection to the minimal discomfort of only the first fine needlestick. By combining many of these conclusions and techniques offered in the literature, tumescent local anesthetic can be administered to a substantial area such as a hand and forearm for tendon transfers or a face for rhytidectomy, with the patient feeling just the initial poke.