A Cost and Efficiency Analysis of the WALANT Technique for the Management of Trigger Finger in a Procedure Room of a Major City Hospital

ASSESSMENT OF SATISFACTION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING SURGICAL TREATMENT BY THE WALANT TECHNIQUE

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the satisfaction of patients who underwent hand surgical treatment with the wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) anesthesia technique.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study on the satisfaction of patients who underwent hand surgical treatment with the WALANT technique. These patients were treated at the Hand and Microsurgery outpatient clinic of a public hospital from March 2020 to March 2022. They were assessed by the modified Heidelberg questionnaire.

RESULTS

The overall average of satisfaction totaled 3.27 (maximum value 4, SD 0.52, p-value 0.04), representing a good result. Patients' profile characteristics showed no statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSION

The efficiency of WALANT technique stemmed from the high satisfaction rate of patients undergoing minor surgeries, justifying its use as a routine option in outpatient surgeries in the public system. Level of evidence III, Retrospective comparative study.

Episode-Based Bundled Payments in Hand Surgery: An Affordable Solution to Overwhelming Health Care Costs

The purpose of this review is to examine the literature regarding episode-based bundled payment models for hand surgery. Health care and productivity costs associated with the surgical management of hand and wrist pathologies represent a substantial burden on the United States health care system. Traditional fee-for-service models fail to incentivize interdisciplinary collaboration and optimization of resources. More recently, the concept of episode-based bundled payments has evolved as a potential solution to rising health care costs by encouraging care coordination, streamlining billing processes, and linking reimbursement to quality metrics and patient outcomes as opposed to the volume of services rendered. Although episode-based bundled payments have demonstrated the potential to reduce health care costs in various medical specialties, their feasibility in hand surgery remains relatively unexplored. The transition to episode-based bundled payments in hand surgery hinges on the ability to incentivize physicians to work cohesively with other members of the care team to reduce low-value preoperative testing, optimize patients preoperatively, and establish treatment guidelines, especially for patients undergoing high-volume, low-complexity procedures. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders, leveraging data-driven insights, and prioritizing patient-centered care, episode-based bundled payments have the potential to enhance the value and efficiency of hand surgery services while improving patient outcomes. The current literature regarding episode-based bundled payments in hand surgery highlights various avenues for cost savings, including alternative sites of service, surgical approaches, use of anesthesia, and the elimination of low-value tests, and demonstrates that there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a trial phase for episode-based bundled payments in hand surgery.

Advances and Challenges in Zone 2 Flexor Tendon Repairs

ABSTRACT

Flexor zone 2 is the area between the A1 pulley at the distal palmar crease to the insertion of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon at A4 pulley. Termed "no man's land," primary repair at zone 2 had notoriously high rate of complications such as adhesions, contractures, and tendon rupture. Improved understanding of tendon healing, stronger suture materials, novel operative techniques, judicious pulley venting, and early active rehabilitation have helped improve outcomes. This review examines current methodologies and postoperative considerations for zone 2 flexor tendon repair.

Infections and Patient Satisfaction in WALANT Hand Surgery in a Hospital Procedure Room

Background: Wide-awake hand surgery has allowed many hand procedures to be moved out of the operating room and into minor procedure rooms while increasing efficiency, maintaining safety, and reducing both patient and hospital costs. The goal of this study was to evaluate patient satisfaction and postoperative complications of wide-awake local anesthesia with no tourniquet procedures performed in a community-based hospital procedure room. Methods: A total of 786 patients underwent 948 elective hand procedures in a hospital procedure room. At the conclusion of their surgeries, the patients were surveyed regarding their satisfaction. Following surgery, patients were evaluated for postoperative complications including infections. The trend in postoperative infection rates across 8 age groups was analyzed using a Cochran-Armitage test in R. Results: The overall infection rate was 6.2% (n = 59). All infections were superficial. Carpal tunnel had the highest number of infections (n = 25), followed by trigger finger (n = 8), and the combination trigger finger with carpal tunnel (n = 7). All infections were managed with antibiotics and/or soaks. Three patients did require a return to the operating room for irrigation and debridement. Ninety-nine percent of patients said the procedure room experience was better or the same as going to the dentist, would recommend wide-awake anesthesia to a friend or family member, and would undergo the procedure again. Conclusion: Wide-awake procedures performed in a hospital procedure room have low infection rates with high patient satisfaction.

Utilization of a Clinic-Based Hand Surgery Procedure Room in the US Military Health System: A Performance Improvement Analysis of Resource Savings and Patient Satisfaction

PURPOSE

Recent studies examining the implementation of clinic-based procedure rooms (PRs) for wide-awake hand surgery have reported cost reduction, decreased burden on hospital systems, and improved patient satisfaction. This study evaluates other resource savings, primarily time spent by patients in the hospital.

METHODS

Thirty-two patients were enrolled in a PR or the operating room group for prospective evaluation. Time spent in the hospital on the day of surgery, several preprocedure appointments, complications, and cost comparisons were evaluated between the two groups. Patient-reported outcomes were also evaluated with postoperative surveys assessing anxiety, pain, and satisfaction.

RESULTS

Significant time savings were noted between the groups. The median time spent in the hospital on the day of surgery for the patients in the operating room group was 256 minutes versus 90 minutes for the PR group, a time savings of approximately 3 hours. Eight additional preoperative clinic visits for operating room patients were generated compared with no additional preoperative visits for PR patients. Cost savings for surgeries performed in the clinic-based procedure amounted to $232,411. No postoperative complications were observed in the clinic setting.

CONCLUSIONS

Continued utilization of the clinical PR for select hand surgery procedures will reduce the cost and time burdens for procedures while maintaining satisfaction and safety.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

A clinic-based PR for performing minor hand surgeries saves the patient time and ostensibly allows the operating room to be used for more complex surgeries that are not easily amenable to a wide-awake in-clinic procedure.

Main Operating Room Versus Field Sterility in Hand Surgery: A Review of the Evidence

Introduction: Many of the guidelines that are generally accepted as main operating room best practices are not evidence based. They are based on the concept that if some sterility is good, more must be better. They are not derived from evidence-based sterility. Evidence-based sterility is the study of which of our various sterility practices increase or decrease our infection rates, as opposed to guidelines based on how many bacteria are in the operating room. Methods: This article adds the most important evidence we could find that is not included in the first paper on evidence-based sterility in hand surgery published in 2019. In this review, we also balance the evidence with common sense opinion. Results: The 21st century has seen a rapid rise in the number and reports of hand surgery procedures performed with field sterility outside the main operating room. There is now an abundance of good evidence to support that the rate of infection is not higher when many hand operations are performed with field sterility in minor procedure rooms. Conclusion: Moving hand surgery out of the main operating room to minor procedure rooms should be supported by healthcare providers. The higher cost, increased solid waste, and inconvenience of main operating room surgery are not justifiable for many procedures because it does not reduce the risk of postoperative infection.

Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet in hand surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet) has been widely implemented in hand surgery. We conducted a systematic review from 1979 to 2022, led by a team of anesthesiologist. Only randomized studies comparing WALANT to other types of regional anesthesia were included. The outcomes studied were pain, duration of the procedure, intraoperative bleeding, complications, and patient satisfaction. Twelve articles were included in the analysis. We found a reduction of 2.77 on the VAS (95% CI -3.79; -1.75, I² 93%) for intraoperative pain in the WALANT group. There was no significant difference (MD 0.79, 95% CI 95% -0.11; 1.69, I² 73%) for duration of surgery. Patient satisfaction was consistently high in the WALANT group. Intraoperative bleeding was minimal and not clinically relevant. Compared to other types of regional anesthesia in hand surgery, the WALANT technique decreases pain for the patients without increasing the length of surgery.

Cost-reduction Analysis of Percutaneous Pinning of Hand Fractures in an Outpatient Clinic

Background

The University of Sherbrooke's Hospital Center operating room has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting surgeons to seek alternative ways to treat acute injuries requiring surgery. In the spring of 2020, we began performing percutaneous pinning of hand fractures in our outpatient clinic. We aimed to estimate the savings in 2021 by transferring these procedures from the operating room to the outpatient clinic.

Methods

We identified all patients with hand injuries who received percutaneous pinning in 2021 using billing codes. Only patients treated in the outpatient clinic were included. We estimated the cost of hand fracture fixation in the operating room by considering the anesthesiologist's fee, the hospital's hourly rate for a 1-hour surgery (including a respiratory therapist, 2 nurses, and equipment) and salary bonuses for unfavorable hours, subtracting the cost difference of outpatient equipment.

Results

We identified 114 patients treated with percutaneous pinning, of whom 93 were included in our study. Our calculations showed a total cost reduction of CAD $55,789 in 2021.

Conclusions

Percutaneous pinning of hand fractures in an outpatient setting resulted in a yearly cost reduction of more than CAD $55,000. Investing in ambulatory care for hand fracture management benefits both patients and institutions.

Sterile Draping of Operative Microscopes in Breast Free Flaps and Surgical Site Infections

BACKGROUND

Operative microscopes are traditionally draped in single-use plastic to prevent infection theoretically. The necessity of this routine in breast free flap surgery is unclear. Alternatively, sterile wrapping of microscope handles would reduce operating room waste and provide a more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable approach to sterility. This study aimed to determine whether the draping technique used during abdominally based free flaps (Ab-FF) influenced the rate of surgical site infections.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of Ab-FF performed consecutively between March 2017 and August 2022. Patient demographics, comorbidities, perioperative data, and postoperative complications were collected. The primary outcomes included postoperative surgical site infections and environmental impact.

RESULTS

Of the 281 identified breasts reconstructed with Ab-FF, operating microscopes were sterilely covered with microscope drapes (n = 215) or handle covers (n = 66) composed of polyethylene-based plastic. Overall, postoperative infections occurred in 9.3% of cases (n = 26) in either the recipient breast (n = 11, 3.9%) or abdominal donor site (n = 15, 5.3%), primarily due to S. aureus and Streptococcus species . The handle (n = 6, 9.1%) and drape (n = 20, 9.3%) cohorts had similar infection rates with no sequelae of operative complications. In multivariate analysis, radiation was the only independent predictor of postoperative infection, while bilateral reconstructions were independently protective. Replacing a microscope drape with a handle reduces carbon emissions by 1276 grams of CO 2 and direct costs by $7.84 per item.

CONCLUSIONS

The principles of "Lean and Green" surgery prioritize reducing operating room generated waste to achieve financial and environmental sustainability. This cohort study of 281 breast free flaps demonstrates that switching from whole microscope draping to handle wrapping was not associated with an increased rate or odds of infection. Adopting a microscope handle wrapping protocol decreased the carbon footprint and operative costs. The results of this study offer evidence to support adoption and further exploration of pragmatic, cost-effective, and sustainable approaches to microsurgical breast reconstruction.

Wide-Awake Carpal Tunnel Release in the United States: Trends in Volume and Reimbursement by Operative Setting

BACKGROUND

Office-based surgery can increase logistical and financial efficiency for patients and surgeons. The current study compares wide-awake, office-based carpal tunnel release to wide-awake operations performed in the operating room in terms of volume, financial burden, narcotic prescriptions, and adverse events.

METHODS

Operations performed under local-only anesthesia from 2010 to 2020 were identified in a national administrative database (PearlDiver). Patients were grouped by surgical setting and matched based on age, sex, comorbidity burden, and geographic region. Primary endpoints included total disbursement and physician reimbursement, and 30-day narcotics prescriptions, emergency department (ED) visits, and surgical site infections (SSIs).

RESULTS

Before matching, there were 303,741 operating room operations and 5463 office operations. From 2010 to 2020, the percentage of operations in the office increased from 1.2% to 3.4%. Matched cohorts included 21,835 operating room operations and 5459 office operations. Office surgery was associated with lower total disbursement and physician reimbursement for patients with commercial insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare. Linear regression modeling indicated that office-based surgery was significantly associated with lower total disbursement and physician reimbursement. Fewer office patients filled narcotic prescriptions and visited the ED, and there was no difference in SSIs.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with operating room surgery, office surgery was associated with lower financial burden, fewer narcotics prescriptions and ED visits, and a similar incidence of SSIs. These findings, together with literature showing greater efficiency in the office, suggest that office-based operations are safe and cost-effective and should continue to grow.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, III.

Complications and side effects of Wide-Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) in upper limb surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Wide-Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT), a groundbreaking anaesthetic technique resurging in practice, warrants a comprehensive safety analysis for informed adoption. Our study aimed to identify complications/side effects of WALANT upper limb procedures through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

This PROSPERO-registered study was performed with strict adherence to PRISMA guidelines. Embase, OVIDMedline, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched until February 2023. Inclusion criteria involved English articles, reporting complications/side effects in primary WALANT upper limb surgeries. Outcomes included all complications and side effects, data on the anaesthetic mixture, publication year/location, study type, and procedures performed. The meta-analysis employed the Freeman-Tukey Double Arcsine Transformation, computed I2 statistics, and utilized common or random effects models for pooled analysis.

RESULTS

2002 studies were identified; 79 studies met the inclusion criteria representing 15,595 WALANT patients. A total of 301 patients had complications, and the meta-analysis using a random effects model provided a complication rate of 1.7% (95% CI: 0.93-2.7%). The most reported complications were superficial infection (41%, n = 123/300), other/specified (12%, n = 37/300), and recurrent disease (6.7%, n = 20/300). A decade-by-decade analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in complication rates spanning the last three decades (p = 0.42). Adding sodium bicarbonate to the anaesthetic solution significantly reduced postoperative complications (p = 0.025).

CONCLUSION

WALANT has a low overall complication rate of 1.7%, with no significant temporal variation and a significant reduction in complications when sodium bicarbonate is added to the anaesthetic solution. Our findings support the safety of WALANT in upper limb procedures.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO: CRD42023404018.

Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures Under Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze the available literature on fixation of distal radius fractures (DRFs) under wide-awake local anesthesia no-tourniquet (WALANT), and to examine postoperative pain scores and functional outcomes, operative data including operative time and blood loss, and the frequency of adverse events.

METHODS

Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and SCOPUS were searched from inception until May 2022 for relevant studies. Studies were screened in duplicate, and data on pain scores, functional outcomes, and adverse events were recorded. Due to methodological and statistical heterogeneity, the results are presented in a descriptive fashion.

RESULTS

Ten studies were included comprising 456 patients with closed, unilateral DRFs, of whom 226 underwent fixation under WALANT. These patients had a mean age of 52.8 ± 8.3 years, were 48% female, and had a mean follow-up time of 11.6 months (range: 6-24). Operative time for WALANT patients averaged 60.4 ± 6.5 minutes, with mean postoperative pain scores of 1.4 ± 0.6 on a 10-point scale. Studies that compared WALANT to general anesthesia found shorter hospital stays with most WALANT patients being sent home the same day, decreased postoperative pain scores, and decreased costs to the healthcare system. No adverse events were reported for WALANT patients.

CONCLUSIONS

A growing body of literature reports that for closed, unilateral DRF, surgical fixation under WALANT is a safe and effective option. It allows patients to have surgery sooner, with improved pain scores and good functional outcomes, with a very low incidence of adverse events.

Wide Awake Local Anesthetic No Tourniquet in Hand and Wrist Surgery: Current Concepts, Indications, and Considerations

Background

Traditionally, the use of a pneumatic arterial tourniquet was requisite for safe and effective surgery of the hand. The use of arterial tourniquets necessitates the use of regional or general anaesthesia. Wide-awake local anaesthetic no tourniquet (WALANT) has emerged as a novel technique to overcome the limitations of tourniquet use in conjunction with regional/general anaesthesia. This review aimed to examine the safety and effectiveness of WALANT and provide guidance for surgeons with limited WALANT experience.

Methods

A literature review of MEDLINE was performed up to March 2021 to identify all articles related to the use of WALANT in hand surgery. Any article reporting original data related to the use of WALANT was eligible for inclusion.

Results

A total of 101 articles were identified through database searching. Of these, 79 met full inclusion criteria and described the use of WALANT in 19 elective and trauma procedures. Current data suggest that WALANT is safe and effective for use in a range of procedures.

Conclusions

WALANT surgery is increasing in popularity as evidenced by the variety of surgical indications reported in the literature. There is limited comparative data on the cost-effectiveness of WALANT compared to conventional methods. Current data suggest that WALANT is safe, better tolerated by patients and associated with direct and indirect cost savings.

Regional Anesthesia in Upper-Limb Surgery

BACKGROUND

Local and regional anesthesia is associated with numerous clinical and institutional advantages relative to general anesthesia. As anesthesiologists and surgeons increasingly integrate local and regional anesthesia into their clinical practice, an understanding of the principles, evolution, and trends underpinning modern anesthetic techniques continues to be relevant.

METHODS

A review of the literature in databases Medline, PubMed, and EMBASE identified recent developments, ongoing trends, and historical milestones in upper-limb regional anesthesia.

RESULTS

Advances in regional anesthetic techniques in the last century have led to reduced postoperative pain, improved safety, and improved outcomes in upper-limb surgery. The development of ultrasound-guided techniques, as well as pharmacological advances in local anesthetic drugs and adjuncts, has further advanced the role of regional anesthesia. Wide-awake local anesthesia with no tourniquet has allowed certain procedures to be performed on select patients in outpatient and low-resource settings.

CONCLUSIONS

This review provides an overview of local and regional anesthesia in the upper-limb from its historical origins to its contemporary applications in upper-limb surgery, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carpal Tunnel Decompression Under Wide Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet Technique (WALANT): A Cost Effective and Outcome Analysis

Introduction Wide-awake local anaesthesia with no tourniquet (WALANT) technique is cost-effective, resource-friendly, and safe. This can be used as an alternative to hand surgery procedures in outpatient units. It can be performed in clinics or operating rooms. Methods We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of WALANT for carpal tunnel decompression (CTD) over two years. Measured results include wound infections, relief of symptoms, paraesthesia, haematoma, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), hospital anxiety and depression scale score (HADS) and cost-effectiveness. Results Eighteen patients underwent CTD under the WALANT technique over two years. VAS score was recorded at 3.1 ± 1.2 during the procedure and 1.67 ± 0.933 at two weeks follow-up. Persistent paraesthesia was found in only one patient at follow-up. Minimal bleeding was recorded during the procedure. No wound infections, revision surgery or post-operative haematoma formation were found. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was reported as 4.77 ± 2.1 after surgery. WALANT was also cost-effective, with an overall amount of £20. Conclusion Performing carpal tunnel decompression under WALANT in one stop upper limb clinic is a safe and cost-effective technique with no significant patient-related complications.

Surgical Excision of Postaxial Polydactyly Type B in the Office Setting

BACKGROUND

Simple postaxial polydactyly (type B) is a common congenital hand malformation often treated by suture or clip ligation.

METHODS

We present a case series of patients with simple postaxial polydactyly treated by surgical excision using local anesthesia in an office setting.

RESULTS

The procedure was performed on 78 digits in 48 children with a mean age of 10.2 weeks. There were no intraoperative or early postoperative complications. A follow-up by phone interview was performed at an average of 3.2 years postoperatively. All patients were reported to be pain-free and have normal function without a perceived range of motion deficits. All parents selected the highest level of satisfaction regarding cosmetic outcomes and overall experience with the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that an office-based surgical excision is a safe, effective, and economical treatment option and has developed into our standard of care for this common condition.

Comparison between wide-awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet surgery and traditional local anaesthesia surgery for limb operations

Background: In traditional local anaesthesia surgeries, tourniquets are used to reduce blood loss. However, it may induce tourniquet pain. If a long tourniquet time is anticipated, regional or general anaesthesia may be required. Wide-awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) surgery suggests blood loss can be controlled by the use of adrenaline instead of a tourniquet. This study aims to investigate the difference in patient's pain perception, satisfaction and hemostasis control between two groups of patients, the WALANT group, who underwent WALANT surgery, and the traditional group, who underwent traditional local anaesthesia with tourniquet surgery. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of patients who underwent common orthopaedic local anaesthesia surgeries in a regional hospital between January 2020 and December 2020. Operations were performed by two groups of surgeons: WALANT group and traditional group. Data were collected via questionnaires which included patients’ demographics, diagnosis and operation type, surgeon experience, dosage and type of local anaesthesia use, tourniquet use, operation time, hemostasis status, difficulty of operation, patient's pain perception (pain during LA injection, wound site pain during operation, tourniquet pain, post-operative pain) and satisfaction. The data were analysed by Mann–Whitney U test with SPSS. Results: A total of 143 questionnaires were collected. The WALANT group suffered from less wound site pain during operation ( p = 0.008), less tourniquet pain ( p < 0.001) and less post-operative pain ( p < 0.001). WALANT group had a longer operation time ( p = 0.002). Both the traditional group and WALANT group were commented to have good haemostasis with a median score of 1 and 2, respectively, although the difference in hemostasis control value was significant ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: WALANT surgery was safe and could achieve similar hemostasis with no limitation of tourniquet time and could significantly reduce post-operative pain compared with traditional local anaesthesia with tourniquet use. Level of evidence: Level II.

Optimizing the Use of Operating Rooms by Transitioning Common Hand Surgeries Into the Office Setting

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the true monetary implications, at the health system level, of moving simple hand procedures, performed with wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet surgery, from the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) to office setting.

METHODS

We analyzed the costs, revenues, case times, and patient demographics for 2 cohorts of patients who underwent hand and non-hand surgical procedures over a 2-year period. We calculated the mean margin per minute for the top 5 procedures in non-hand orthopedic surgery subgroups, complex plastics hand, and non-hand plastic surgery. We then calculated the following: (1) hours operating room or ASC time gained by moving hand procedures to the office, (2) additional subgroup patients theoretically treated by using the ASC hours gained, and (3) net margin (in dollars) because of additional procedures.

RESULTS

Six board-certified hand surgeons performed 623 simple ASC and 808 in-office procedures, consisting of 795 carpal tunnel releases, 84 first dorsal compartment releases, and 446 trigger finger releases. The net margin per minute for simple ASC and in-office hand procedures was $25.01/min and $5.63/min, respectively. In the office setting, hand surgery freed up 821 hours of ASC time, which could be theoretically used to treat over 300 additional patients awaiting outpatient orthopedic hand or plastic surgery. Depending on the subspecialty and type of substituted cases, the theoretical net margin varied from -$150,413 to $3.9 million.

CONCLUSIONS

Transitioning simple hand operations out of ASCs realized a mean cost savings of 82% per case ($1,137 vs $206) and effectively opened 821 additional hours of operating room time over a 2-year period.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Transitioning simple hand operations out of the operating room setting and into the office setting reduces the cost of hand surgical care, improves operating room access for alternate procedures or patients, and validates the sustainability of safe and effective wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet surgery from a hospital system's financial standpoint.

The Efficacy of Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) in Common Plastic Surgery Operations Performed on the Upper Limbs: A Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

The wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique is commonly used in elective hand surgery, whereas its application in plastic surgery is still limited. The aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of WALANT in common plastic surgery operations performed on the upper limbs.

METHODS

Patients who underwent those operations under WALANT were matched and compared with patients who had general or regional anesthesia without infiltration of a local anesthetic solution. All operations were performed by the same surgeon. Data from 98 operations were collected and analyzed for the total operation time, operation theatre time and complication and patient satisfaction rates.

RESULTS

All operations under WALANT, mainly skin tumor excision and flap repair or skin grafting and burn escharectomy with or without skin grafting, were completed successfully. No statistical difference in total operation time and complication rates was revealed. Statistical significance favoring WALANT was identified regarding the mean operation theatre time and patient satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

WALANT is an effective method for common plastic surgery operations performed on the upper limbs that is associated with better operation theatre occupancy and high patient satisfaction rates.

Minimizing Costs for Dorsal Wrist Ganglion Treatment: A Cost-Minimization Analysis

PURPOSE

Dorsal wrist ganglions are treated commonly with aspiration, or open or arthroscopic excision in operating room (OR) or procedure room (PR) settings. As it remains unclear which treatment strategy is most cost-effective in yielding cyst resolution, our purpose was to perform a formal cost-minimization analysis from the societal perspective in this context.

METHODS

A microsimulation decision analytic model evaluating 5 treatment strategies for dorsal wrist ganglions was developed, ending in either resolution or a single failed open revision surgical excision. Strategies included immediate open excision in the OR, immediate open excision in the PR, immediate arthroscopic excision in the OR, or 1 or 2 aspirations before each of the surgical options. Recurrence and complications rates were pooled from the literature for each treatment type. One-way sensitivity and threshold analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The most cost-minimal strategy was 2 aspiration attempts before open surgical excision in the PR setting ($1,603 ± 1,595 per resolved case), followed by 2 aspirations before open excision in the OR ($1,969 ± 2,165 per resolved case). Immediate arthroscopic excision was the costliest strategy ($6,539 ± 264 per resolved case). Single aspiration preoperatively was more cost-minimal than any form of immediate surgery ($2,918 ± 306 and $4,188 ± 306 per resolved case performed in the PR and OR, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

From the societal perspective, performing 2 aspirations before surgical excision in the PR setting was the most cost-minimal treatment strategy, although in reference to surgeons who do not perform this procedure in the PR setting, open excision in the OR was nearly as cost-effective. As patient preferences may preclude routinely performing 2 aspirations, performing at least 1 aspiration before surgical excision improves the cost-effectiveness of dorsal wrist ganglions treatment.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Economic Decision Analysis II.

Moving Minor Hand Surgeries Out of the Operating Room and Into the Office-Based Procedure Room: A Population-Based Trend Analysis

PURPOSE

Our primary purpose was to quantify the proportion of minor hand surgeries performed in the procedure room (PR) setting in a population-based cohort. Given the increase in the literature that has emerged since the mid-2000s highlighting the benefits of the PR setting, we hypothesized that a trend analysis would reveal increased utilization over time.

METHODS

We used the 2006-2017 MarketScan Commercial Database to identify adults who underwent isolated minor hand surgeries performed in PR and operation room surgical settings in the United States. The Cochran-Armitage trends test was used to determine whether the proportion of all procedures (PR + operation room) changed over time.

RESULTS

A total of 257,581 surgeries were included in the analysis, of which 24,966 (11.5%) were performed in the PR. There was an increase in the overall number of surgeries under study as well as increased utilization of the PR setting for open carpal tunnel release, trigger digit release, DeQuervain release, hand or finger mass excision, and hand or finger cyst excision. The magnitude of the increases in PR utilization was small: between 2006 and 2017, the PR utilization increased by 1.4% for open carpal tunnel release, 5.4% for trigger digit release, 2.9% for DeQuervain release, 10.1% for hand or finger mass excision, and 6.5% for hand or finger cyst excision.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the published benefits of the PR setting, we observed that the majority of these 5 common minor hand surgeries are performed in the operation room setting. Between 2006 and 2017, the office-based PR utilization increased slightly. The identification of barriers to PR utilization is needed to improve the value of care.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic II.

Out-of-Pocket and Total Costs for Common Hand Procedures From 2008 to 2016: A Nationwide Claims Database Analysis

PURPOSE

Rising patient out-of-pocket (OOP) costs and financial distress have been associated with reduced access to and delays in care. We evaluated whether OOP and total costs for common hand procedures have increased from 2008 to 2016 and identified key drivers of these costs.

METHODS

Using the IBM MarketScan Research Databases, we identified patients who underwent trigger finger release, open carpal tunnel release, thumb carpometacarpal joint arthroplasty, cubital tunnel release, or open treatment of distal radius fracture in the outpatient setting between 2008 and 2016. Patient OOP costs included copayment, coinsurance, and deductible payments. Costs not directly related to medical care, such as transportation and childcare costs, were not included. The overall cost was defined as the sum of the patient OOP cost and insurer reimbursements. We calculated changes in OOP and total overall costs over the study period. We also performed multivariable linear regressions to evaluate the associations between costs and procedure type, insurance type, region, and site of service.

RESULTS

The mean patient OOP cost increased by 55% to 71% and the total overall cost increased by 20% to 45%, depending on the procedure, between 2008 and 2016. Facility overall costs increased by 38%, whereas professional overall costs increased by 9%. Procedures performed in an office-based setting were associated with the lowest patient OOP and total overall costs, whereas high-deductible health plans were associated with the highest OOP costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient OOP and total overall costs increased for the most common hand procedures between 2008 and 2016, driven by a substantial increase in facility costs. Office-based procedures were associated with the lowest costs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

To alleviate the rising patient cost burden, hand surgeons could incorporate OOP cost considerations into shared decision-making tools, identify patients who may benefit from financial counseling, and shift procedures to an office-based setting.

Optimization of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using WALANT Method

As surgical management of carpal tunnel release (CTR) becomes ever more common, extensive research has emerged to optimize the contextualization of this procedure. In particular, CTR under the wide-awake, local-anesthesia, no-tourniquet (WALANT) technique has emerged as a cost-effective, safe, and straightforward option for the millions who undergo this procedure worldwide. CTR under WALANT is associated with considerable cost savings and workflow efficiencies; it can be safely and effectively executed in an outpatient clinic under field sterility with less use of resources and production of waste, and it has consistently demonstrated standard or better post-operative pain control and satisfaction among patients. In this review of the literature, we describe the current findings on CTR using the WALANT technique.

WALANT: A Discussion of Indications, Impact, and Educational Requirements

Wide-awake, local anesthesia, no tourniquet (WALANT) is a technique that removes the requirement for operations to be performed with a tourniquet, general/regional anesthesia, sedation or an anesthetist. We reviewed the WALANT literature with respect to the diverse indications and impact of WALANT to discuss the importance of future surgical curriculum integration. With appropriate patient selection, WALANT may be used effectively in upper and lower limb surgery; it is also a useful option for patients who are unsuitable for general/regional anesthesia. There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of WALANT in more complex operations in both upper and lower limb surgery. WALANT is a safe, effective, and simple technique associated with equivalent or superior patient pain scores among other numerous clinical and cost benefits. Cost benefits derive from reduced requirements for theater/anesthetic personnel, space, equipment, time, and inpatient stay. The lack of a requirement for general anesthesia reduces aerosol generating procedures, for example, intubation/high-flow oxygen, hence patients and staff also benefit from the reduced potential for infection transmission. WALANT provides a relatively, but not entirely, bloodless surgical field. Training requirements include the surgical indications, volume calculations, infiltration technique, appropriate perioperative patient/team member communication, and specifics of each operation that need to be considered, for example, checking of active tendon glide versus venting of flexor tendon pulleys. WALANT offers significant clinical, economic, and operative safety advantages when compared with general/regional anesthesia. Key challenges include careful patient selection and the comprehensive training of future surgeons to perform the technique safely.

Comparison of the WALANT and the PFNB techniques in the surgical treatment of unimalleolar fractures: a prospective study

The popliteal fossa nerve block (PFNB) technique is one of the most popular anesthesia method in the foot and ankle surgery. The wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique is an local anesthetic method and it has been gaining popularity in orthopedic surgery in recent years. Our aim is to compare the efficacy of the WALANT and the PFNB techniques in pain management. This prospective study included 40 patients with lateral malleolar and medial malleolar fractures. The first group was anesthetized using the WALANT technique; in the second group, PFNB was performed. All patients were evaluated for intrasurgical bleeding amounts, mean arterial pressure, surgery time and VAS scores for presurgical pain, pain during the local anesthetic injection sequence, mean intrasurgical pain, mean postsurgical pain. A total of 40 patients in both groups were successfully operated on with the WALANT and the PFNB techniques. When the two groups were compared, statistically significant differences were observed for mean intrasurgical VAS (p = 0.033), mean postsurgical VAS (p = 0.038) and intrasurgical bleeding (p = 0.006). No significant difference was found in pain scores during anesthetic injection (p = 0.529), mean arterial pressure (p = 0.583) and surgery time (p = 0.277). The PFNB technique is more successful in pain management in the treatment of the unimalleolar fractures. Intrasurgical bleeding amounts were less detected in the WALANT tech- nique. The both techniques are a reliable and suitable anesthetic method in the surgical treatment of uni- malleolar fractures.

Adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of UK and European hand surgery units

Hand surgery services had to rapidly adapt to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of the Reconstructive Surgery Trials Network #RSTNCOVID Hand Surgery survey was to document the changes made in the UK and Europe and consider which might persist. A survey developed by the Reconstructive Surgery Trials Network, in association with the British Association of Hand Therapists, was distributed to hand surgery units across the UK and Europe after the first wave of COVID-19. It was completed by one consultant hand surgeon at each of the 44 units that responded. Adult and paediatric trauma were maintained but elective services stopped. Consultations were increasingly virtual, and surgery was more likely to be under local anaesthetic and in a lower resource setting. Many of the changes are viewed as being beneficial. However, it is important to establish that they are clinically and cost effective. These survey results will help prioritise and support future research initiatives.

Current Evidence Involving WALANT Surgery

Wide-awake local anesthesia no-tourniquet (WALANT) surgery is an attractive option for hand surgeons, particularly during resource-scarce periods, as it eliminates dependence on main operating rooms or hospital-based procedures. The limited prepping or draping used for WALANT field sterility is as effective, if not more effective, than standard sterile prepping or draping. Patient anxiety surrounding WALANT surgery is similar to or less than that of general or local anesthesia with or without tourniquet. Patients use the same or lower amounts of postoperative narcotics after WALANT as compared to after the other anesthetic methods. Wide-awake local anesthesia no-tourniquet surgery saves significant costs for the same surgeries when performed under general or local anesthesia with or without tourniquet. There are very few complications associated with the WALANT method of anesthesia; rare case reports include vasovagal syncope and cardiac arrhythmia due to inadvertent intravascular injection of epinephrine.

[WALANT - Wide Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet: Complications in elective and acute traumatological Hand Surgery Procedures]

INTRODUCTION

The WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet) technique has rapidly gained popularity. The advantages are often described, whereas information about complications is rare. Therefore, we followed up on our own patients regarding complications.Patients and Method Between January 2013 und June 2017, the complications experienced by one single surgeon were evaluated. The study included all elective (n = 195) and acute (n = 90) surgical procedures performed in WALANT. Minimum age of the patients was 18 years. All patients received Articaine 1 % and Suprarenine (1:200.000). Different volumes were injected with a minimum delay to surgery of 30 minutes. Complications were identified retrospectively by evaluation of patient files and a survey via telephone using a standardised questionnaire. Mean follow-up was 73 weeks.

RESULTS

In 285 patients, there were 13 (4.6 %) complications. After injection of 16 ml of Articaine/Suprarenine, one patient had coronary symptoms, which ceased when two puffs of nitroglycerin spray were given. In one patient with a neurovascular injury in the palm, a bloodless field could not be obtained. A short tourniquet time was necessary for exploration. In one patient undergoing flexor tendon tenolysis, there was a need to convert to general anaesthesia with tourniquet because there was insufficient vasoconstriction due to marked scar tissue. One patient had an erythema around the injection site for a prolonged time, two had extensive erythema on the dorsum of the hand and seven patients reported swelling of the hand that lasted more than one week.

SUMMARY

The WALANT method is safe. Perioperative complications are rare. Nevertheless, there are some disadvantages that should be considered.Vascular injuries, especially in fingers, are to be monitored closely regarding perfusion, and the off-label use should be remembered. Also, caution should be exercised in patients with cardiac disease. Larger injuries may need a short tourniquet time. Tissue that was operated on before does not always seem to be suitable for the technique as diffusion may be compromised. In rare cases, patients may suffer from prolonged erythema or swelling. Generally, patients should be evaluated for suitability to an operation in local anaesthesia.

Cost Implications of Varying the Surgical Setting and Anesthesia Type for Dorsal Wrist Ganglion Cyst Excision Surgery

BACKGROUND

Minimizing expenses attributed to dorsal wrist ganglion cyst excisions, a common minor surgical procedure, presents potential for health care cost savings. Varying the surgical setting (operating room versus procedure room) and type of anesthesia (local-only, monitored anesthesia care, or monitored with regional or general anesthesia) may affect total operative costs.

METHODS

Patients who underwent an isolated unilateral dorsal wrist ganglion cyst excision between January of 2014 and October of 2019 at a single academic medical center were identified by CPT code. The total direct costs for each surgical encounter that met inclusion criteria were calculated. The relative total direct costs were compared between surgical setting and anesthesia type groups. Univariate and multivariable gamma regression models were used to identify factors associated with surgical costs.

RESULTS

A total of 192 patients were included; 26 cases (14 percent) were performed in the procedure room and 166 cases (86 percent) were performed in the operating room. No significant differences in demographic factors were identified between groups. Univariate analysis demonstrated that use of operating room/monitored anesthesia care, operating room/monitored anesthesia care with regional anesthesia, and operating room/general anesthesia groups, as compared to procedure room/local-only, yielded significantly greater median costs (1.76-, 2.34-, and 2.44-fold greater, respectively). Multivariable analysis demonstrated 1.80-, 2.10-, and 2.31-fold greater costs with use of operating room/monitored anesthesia care, operating room/monitored anesthesia care with regional anesthesia, and operating room/general anesthesia relative to procedure room/local-only, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Performing dorsal wrist ganglion cyst excisions in a procedure room with local-only anesthesia minimizes operative direct costs relative to use of the operating room and other anesthetic types.

The what, why and when of wide awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet surgery

Wide awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet, also known as WALANT, is the practice of performing surgery under local anaesthetic in the absence of a tourniquet. This technique uses the vasoconstrictive effects of adrenaline and the local anaesthetic effects of lignocaine to establish a Bier block with haemostatic control. Permitting active patient participation intraoperatively, wide awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet surgery improves patient compliance with rehabilitation and yields higher patient satisfaction. With reduced cost and equipment requirements, this method improves accessibility for patients and productivity for healthcare institutions. This is of particular benefit within the current COVID-19 climate, as wide awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet technique provides a means of overcoming restrictions to theatre access and anaesthetic support. This review delves into the current uses of wide awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet surgery, outlining the initial conception of the practice by Canadian surgeons. The advantages and disadvantages are considered, and potential future applications of this technique are discussed.

WALANT technique versus locoregional anesthesia in the surgical management of metacarpal and phalangeal fractures: Lessons from the Covid-19 crisis

Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) is an anesthetic method which uses a local injection of anesthetic and epinephrine, avoiding use of a tourniquet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, human and logistic resources had to be reorganized, and WALANT ensured resilience in our department to maintain access to surgical care. The objective of the present study was to compare hand function recovery 3 months after surgery for unstable metacarpal or phalangeal fracture under regional anesthesia versus WALANT. From November 2020 to May 2021, 36 patients presenting a metacarpal or phalangeal fracture requiring surgical treatment were included in a single-center study in a university hospital center. Nineteen patients underwent surgery under locoregional anesthesia with tourniquet, and 17 under WALANT. The main endpoint was functional recovery at 3 months on QuickDASH score. Need for complementary anesthesia, surgery duration, analgesic consumption, reintervention rate, and patient satisfaction were also assessed. There was no significant difference between groups in functional recovery at 3 months or on the secondary endpoints. In the COVID-19 context, WALANT proved to be a safe and effective method in hand fracture surgery, ensuring access to surgical care. It should be included in surgical training to optimize day-to-day surgical care and face future crises.

Optimizing Costs and Outcomes for Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis from Societal and Health-Care System Perspectives

BACKGROUND

It is unclear which carpal tunnel release (CTR) strategy (i.e., which combination of surgical technique and setting) is most cost-effective. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to compare (1) open CTR in the procedure room (OCTR/PR), (2) OCTR in the operating room (OCTR/OR), and (3) endoscopic CTR in the operating room (ECTR/OR).

METHODS

A decision analytic model was used to compare costs and health utilities between treatment strategies. Utility and probability parameters were identified from the literature. Medical costs were estimated with Medicare ambulatory surgical payment data. Indirect costs were related to days out of work due to surgical recovery and complications. The effectiveness outcome was quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Probabilistic sensitivity analyses and one-way sensitivity analyses were performed. Cost-effectiveness was assessed from the societal and health-care system perspectives with use of a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/QALY.

RESULTS

In the base-case analysis, OCTR/PR was more cost-effective than OCTR/OR and ECTR/OR from the societal perspective. The mean total costs and QALYs per patient were $29,738 ± $4,098 and 0.88 ± 0.08 for OCTR/PR, $30,002 ± $4,098 and 0.88 ± 0.08 for OCTR/OR, and $41,311 ± $4,833 and 0.87 ± 0.08 for ECTR/OR. OCTR/PR was also the most cost-effective strategy from the health-care system perspective. These findings were robust in the probabilistic sensitivity analyses: OCTR/PR was the dominant strategy (greater QALYs at a lower cost) in 55% and 61% of iterations from societal and health-care system perspectives, respectively. One-way sensitivity analysis demonstrated that OCTR/PR and OCTR/OR remained more cost-effective than ECTR/OR from a societal perspective under the following conditions: $0 surgical cost of ECTR, 0% revision rate following ECTR, equalization of the return-to-work rate between OCTR and ECTR, or 0 days out of work following ECTR. OCTR/OR became more cost-effective than OCTR/PR with the median nerve injury rate tripling and doubling from societal and health-care system perspectives, respectively, or if surgical direct costs in the PR exceeded those in the OR.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with OCTR/OR and ECTR/OR, OCTR/PR minimizes costs to the health-care system and society while providing favorable outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Economic and Decision Analysis Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Comparison of Complication Risk Following Trigger Digit Release Performed in the Office Versus the Operating Room: A Population-Based Assessment

PURPOSE

Trigger digit release (TDR) performed in an office-based procedure room (PR) setting minimizes surgical costs compared with that performed in an operating room (OR); yet, it remains unclear whether the rates of major complications differ by setting. We hypothesized that surgical setting does not have an impact on the rate of major complications after TDR.

METHODS

Adult patients who underwent isolated TDR from 2006 to 2015 were identified from the MarketScan commercial database (IBM) using the provider current procedural terminology code 26055 with a concordant diagnosis on the same claim line (International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, clinical modification 727.03). The PR cohort was defined by presence of a place-of-service code for an in-office procedure without OR or ambulatory center revenue codes, or anesthesiologist claims, on the day of the surgery. The OR cohort was defined by presence of an OR revenue code. We identified major medical complications, surgical site complications, as well as iatrogenic neurovascular and tendon complications within 90 days of the surgery using International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, clinical modification diagnosis and/or current procedural terminology codes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the risk of complications between the PR and OR groups while controlling for Elixhauser comorbidities, smoking, and demographics.

RESULTS

For 7,640 PR and 29,962 OR cases, the pooled rate of major medical complications was 0.99% (76/7,640) and 1.47% (440/29,962), respectively. The PR setting was associated with a significantly lower risk of major medical complications in the multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio 0.76; 95% confidence interval 0.60-0.98). The pooled rate of surgical site complications was 0.67% (51/7,640) and 0.88% (265/29,962) for the PR and OR cases, respectively, with no difference between the surgical settings in the multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio 0.81; 95% confidence interval 0.60-1.10). Iatrogenic complications were infrequently observed (PR 5/7,640 [0.07%]; OR 26/29,962 [0.09%]).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with performing TDR in the OR using a spectrum of commonly used anesthesia types, performing TDR in the PR using local-only anesthesia was associated with a comparably low risk of major medical complications, surgical complications, and iatrogenic complications.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic II.

Evaluating the Safety of the Hand Surgery Procedure Room: A Single-Center Cohort of 1,404 Surgical Encounters

PURPOSE

Performing hand surgeries in the procedure room (PR) setting instead of the operating room effectively reduces surgical costs. Understanding the safety or complication rates associated with the PR is important in determining the value of its use. Our purpose was to describe the incidence of medical and surgical complications among patients undergoing minor hand surgeries in the PR.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all adult patients who underwent an operation in the PR setting between December 2013 and May 2019 at a single tertiary academic medical center by 1 of 5 fellowship-trained orthopedic hand surgeons. Baseline patient characteristics were described. Complication rates were obtained via chart review.

RESULTS

For 1,404 PR surgical encounters, 1,796 procedures were performed. Mean patient age was 59 ± 15 years, 809 were female (57.6%), and average follow-up was 104 days. The most common surgeries were carpal tunnel release (39.9%), trigger finger release (35.9%), and finger mass or cyst excision (9.6%). Most surgeries were performed using a nonpneumatic wrist tourniquet (58%), whereas 42% used no tourniquet. No patient experienced a major medical complication. No procedure was aborted owing to intolerance. No patient required admission. No intraoperative surgical or medical complications occurred. Observed complications included delayed capillary refill requiring phentolamine administration after a trigger thumb release performed using epinephrine without a tourniquet (n = 1; 0.1%), complex regional pain syndrome (n = 3; 0.2%), infection requiring surgical debridement (n = 2; 0.2%), and recurrent symptoms requiring reoperation (n = 8; 0.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort of patients in whom surgery was performed in a PR, there were no major intraoperative surgical or medical complications. There was a low rate of postoperative infection, development of complex regional pain syndrome, and a low need for revision surgery. These observations do not support the concern for safety as a barrier to performing minor hand surgery in the PR setting.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic IV.

Comparison of Complication Risk for Open Carpal Tunnel Release: In-office versus Operating Room Settings

BACKGROUND

Performing open carpal tunnel release (oCTR) in an office-based procedure room setting (PR) decreases surgical costs when compared with the operating room (OR). However, it is unclear if the risk of major medical, wound, and iatrogenic complications differ between settings. Our purpose was to compare the risk of major medical complications associated with oCTR between PR and OR settings.

METHODS

Utilizing the MarketScan Database, we identified adults undergoing isolated oCTR between 2006 and 2015 performed in PR and OR settings. ICD-9-CM and/or CPT codes were used to identify major medical complications, surgical site complications, and iatrogenic complications within 90 days of oCTR. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare complication risk between groups.

RESULTS

Of the 2134 PR and 76,216 OR cases, the risk of major medical complications was 0.89% (19/2134) and 1.20% (914/76,216), respectively, with no difference observed in the multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.84; 95% CI 0.53-1.33; P=0.45). Risk of surgical site complications was 0.56% (12/2134) and 0.81% (616/76,216) for the PR and OR, respectively, with no difference in the multivariable analysis (OR 0.68; 95% C.I. 0.38-1.22; P=0.19). Iatrogenic complications were rarely observed (PR 1/2134 [0.05%], OR 71/76,216 [0.09%]), which precluded multivariable modeling.

CONCLUSION

These results support a similar safety profile for both the PR and OR surgical settings following oCTR with similar pooled major medical complications, pooled wound/surgical site complications, and iatrogenic complications.

WALANT Protocol: Stop before you block

The use of Wide Awake Local Anaesthetic No Tourniquet (WALANT) amongst Plastic and Orthopaedic Hand Surgeons has been accelerated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated risks of general anaesthesia. Benefits of WALANT include a bloodless field, improved recovery, on-table testing, as well as cost and time savings. Whilst more clinical trials are underway to fully elucidate safety-profile and outcomes, there is a lack of consensus and clarity over contraindications to WALANT. A survey of trainees identified that only one-in-five were aware of the appropriate reversal agent in the event of inadequate perfusion. We feel that a WALANT checklist should be developed and implemented for use immediately prior to administration of local anaesthetic with adrenaline to an extremity, building on the successes of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Royal College of Anaesthetists checklists. Such a checklist should include contraindications to WALANT and make the operator aware of the availability, dose and location of Phentolamine as a reversal agent. Introducing this checklist will help to facilitate safer and more effective use of WALANT within Hand Surgery.

Development of a Low-Resource Operating Room and a Wide-Awake Orthopedic Surgery Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant medication, supply and equipment, and provider shortages, limiting the resources available for provision of surgical care. In response to mandates restricting surgery to high-acuity procedures during this period, our institution developed a multidisciplinary Low-Resource Operating Room (LROR) Taskforce in April 2020. This study describes our institutional experience developing an LROR to maintain access to urgent surgical procedures during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A delineation of available resources and resource replacement strategies was conducted, and a final institution-wide plan for operationalizing the LROR was formed. Specialty-specific subgroups then convened to determine best practices and opportunities for LROR utilization. Orthopedic surgery performed in the LROR using wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) is presented as a use case. Results. Overall, 19 limited resources were identified, spanning across the domains of physical space, drugs, devices and equipment, and personnel. Based on the assessment, the decision to proceed with creation of an LROR was made. Sixteen urgent orthopedic surgeries were successfully performed using WALANT without conversion to general anesthesia. Conclusion. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a LROR was successfully designed and operationalized. The process for development of a LROR and recommended strategies for operating in a resource-constrained environment may serve as a model for other institutions and facilitate rapid implementation of this care model should the need arise in future pandemic or disaster situations.

Wide-awake Local Anesthesia with No Tourniquet: An Updated Review

The wide-awake local anesthesia with no tourniquet (WALANT) technique has become popularized for various hand/upper extremity procedures. Before surgery, patients receive local anesthetic, consisting of lidocaine with epinephrine, and remain awake for the entire procedure. The purpose of this review was to investigate the advantages, diverse application, outcomes, cost benefits, use in challenging environments, patient considerations, and contraindications associated with WALANT.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of the literature on the WALANT technique was conducted. Search terms included: WALANT, wide-awake surgery, no tourniquet, local anesthesia, hand, wrist, cost, and safety.

RESULTS

The WALANT technique has proven to be successful for common procedures such as flexor tendon repair, tendon transfer, trigger finger releases, Depuytren disease, and simple bony procedures. Recently, the use of WALANT has expanded to more extensive soft-tissue repair, fracture management, and bony manipulation. Advantages include negating preoperative evaluation and testing for anesthesia clearance, eliminating risk of monitored anesthesia care, removal of anesthesia providers and ancillary staff, significant cost savings, and less waste produced. Intraoperative evaluations can be performed through active patient participation, and postoperative recovery and monitoring time are reduced. WALANT is associated with high patient satisfaction rates and low infection rates.

CONCLUSIONS

The WALANT technique has proven to be valuable to both patients and providers, optimizing patient satisfaction and providing substantial healthcare savings. As its application continues to grow, current literature suggests positive outcomes.

A Comparison of Open Carpal Tunnel Release Outcomes Between Procedure Room and Operating Room Settings

PURPOSE

Carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgical costs are minimized when performed in the procedure room (PR) setting, compared with the operating room. However, it remains unclear whether outcomes differ between surgical settings. Our purpose was to compare outcomes at 1 year or greater follow-up after open CTR between patients treated in PR versus operating room settings using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ).

METHODS

A change in clinical care protocols at our institution occurred in 2014. Before this, all CTRs were performed in the operating room; thereafter, these were transitioned to the PR. Adult patients who underwent isolated unilateral or bilateral open CTR in either surgical setting were considered for inclusion, in which procedures were conducted between January 2014 and October 2018 for the PR group and January 2009 and March 2014 for the operating room group. The Functional Status Scale (FSS) and the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) components of the BCTQ were collected for all eligible patients at a minimum of 1 year after surgery. We used univariate and multivariable linear regression to determine whether postoperative BCTQ scores were equivalent between PR and operating room groups within a threshold of one-fourth of the lowest estimates of the minimal clinically important difference.

RESULTS

No differences in demographics, comorbidities, or insurance type were observed between the 104 PR and 112 operating room patients. Survey response rate was 25% and 25% for the PR and operating room patients, respectively. At a mean follow-up of 3 ± 1 years, FSS and SSS scores were equivalent between PR and operating room groups on bivariate analysis. The multivariable equivalence test also demonstrated equivalent FSS and SSS scores between PR and operating room groups within a one-fourth minimal clinically important difference threshold while controlling for age, sex, presence of diabetes or thyroid disease, unilateral versus bilateral CTR, and surgeon.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical outcomes did not differ between PR and operating room settings after open CTR. Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic III.

WALANT versus intravenous regional anesthesia for carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

There are several anesthetic techniques for surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Results from this surgery using the "wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet" (WALANT) technique have been described. However, there is no conclusive evidence regarding the effectiveness of the WALANT technique, compared with the usual techniques.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of the WALANT technique, compared with intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA; Bier's block), for surgical treatment of CTS.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Randomized clinical trial, conducted at Hospital Alvorada Moema and the Discipline of Hand Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

METHODS

Seventy-eight patients were included. The primary outcome was measurement of perioperative pain through a visual analogue scale (VAS). The secondary outcomes were the Boston Questionnaire score, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score, need for use of analgesics, operating room times, remission of paresthesia, failures and complications.

RESULTS

The WALANT technique (n = 40) proved to be superior to IVRA (n = 38), especially for controlling intraoperative pain (0.11 versus 3.7 cm; P < 0.001) and postoperative pain (0.6 versus 3.9 cm; P < 0.001). Patients spent more time in the operating room in the IVRA group (59.5 versus 46 minutes; P < 0.01) and needed to use more analgesics (10.8 versus 5.7 dipyrone tablets; P = 0.02). Five IVRA procedures failed (5 versus 0; P = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

The WALANT technique is more effective than IVRA for CTS surgery.

Maintaining Access to Orthopaedic Surgery During Periods of Operating Room Resource Constraint: Expanded Use of Wide-Awake Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic

INTRODUCTION

Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) presents a nonstandard anesthetic approach initially described for use in hand surgery that has gained interest and utilization across a variety of orthopaedic procedures. In response to operating room resource constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, our orthopaedic service rapidly adopted and expanded its use of WALANT.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 16 consecutive cases performed by 7 surgeons was conducted. Patient demographics, surgical details, and perioperative outcomes were assessed. The primary end point was WALANT failure, defined as intraoperative conversion to general anesthesia.

RESULTS

No instances of WALANT failure requiring conversion to general anesthesia occurred. In recovery, one patient (6%) required narcotics for pain control, and the average postoperative pain numeric rating scale was 0.6. The maximum pain score experienced was 4 in the patient requiring postoperative narcotics. The average time in recovery was 42 minutes and ranged from 8 to 118 minutes.

CONCLUSION

The WALANT technique was safely and effectively used in 16 cases across multiple orthopaedic subspecialties, including three procedures not previously described in the literature. WALANT techniques hold promise for use in future disaster scenarios and should be evaluated for potential incorporation into routine orthopaedic surgical care.

Cost Implications of Varying the Surgical Setting and Anesthesia Type for De Quervain Release Surgery

Background  First extensor compartment release is a common surgical procedure that represents a financial burden to the health care system. Questions/Purposes  Study questions included (1) whether surgical encounter costs differ based upon surgical setting (operating room [OR] vs. procedure room [PR]) or (2) based upon anesthesia choice (local only, Bier's block [BB], monitored anesthesia care [MAC], or general [GA]) for De Quervain release (DQR). Patients and Methods  Consecutive adult patients undergoing isolated unilateral DQR at a single academic medical center were identified retrospectively by Current Procedural Terminology code (25000). Using our institution's information technology value tools, we calculated total direct costs for each surgical encounter. Costs were adjusted to January 2016 dollars using the Consumer Price Index, normalized using each participant's surgical encounter cost divided by the median cost in the PR group, then compared across each group using Kruskal-Wallis and Nemenyi's post hoc pair-wise tests. Multivariable gamma regression analysis with a log link was performed to identify factors associated with surgical costs. QuickDASH (disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and the hand) scores were compared using a t -test at final follow-up. Results  Among 58 included patients, 29% (17/58) were treated in the PR and 71% (41/58) in the OR. Compared with local only in the PR, all other groups were significantly more costly. Multivariable gamma regression indicated that use of OR/BB, OR/MAC, or OR/GA independently led to 211, 222, and 357% greater surgical costs as compared with the PR with local only while controlling for provider and patient age. Furthermore, QuickDASH scores were similar between PR and OR groups at final follow-up. Conclusion  Performing DQR in the PR setting under local only anesthesia yields greater value than the OR, as patient-reported outcomes are similar despite significantly lower surgical costs. Level of Evidence This is a Level III, cost analysis study.