Wide-awake surgery in orthopaedics: "Scoping review"

INTRODUCTION

The anaesthetic modality "wide-awake" or "WALANT" (wide awake local anaesthesia not tourniquet) is based on the combination of a local anaesthetic with a vasoconstrictor to reduce bleeding during surgery and to avoid the use of a pneumatic tourniquet. The combination of 1% lidocaine together with 1:100,000 epinephrine is the most commonly used formula. The objective of this work is to carry out a review of the literature about this anaesthetic modality in the field of orthopaedic surgery and traumatology.

METHODS

PubMed and Embase databases were consulted with clearly defined operators. Two independent searches were conducted by two investigators, which were combined. Experimental, observational comparative studies, descriptive studies with n> 5 cases and cost studies were included. The individual results of the included studies are described.

RESULTS

A total of 8794 entries were collected of which a total of 36 studies were included in the review. A large number of these studies have been published since 2010 and refer almost entirely to hand surgery, with multiple indications applied. There is heterogeneity regarding the type of study design and variables studied, among others. In addition, there is a disparity when defining the methodology of the WALANT technique between the different studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first comprehensive and reproducible review of the current state of the WALANT modality. There is great heterogeneity in terms of the study populations, the different comparators, variables studied between the different studies and a lack of precise details regarding the WALANT technique.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, Therapeutic study.

Retrospective evaluation of WALANT in emergency hand surgery in the Bordeaux university hospital

The Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) technique uses local anesthesia based on lidocaine and adrenaline, enabling surgery without the tourniquet normally used in hand surgery. Only a few studies have been conducted on the use of WALANT for emergency hand surgery in teaching hospitals. We therefore set up the WALANT procedure in our emergency department in the university hospital of Bordeaux, France, to evaluate its feasibility and the satisfaction of patients and operators. Between April and June 2020, we included 58 patients undergoing surgery for acute trauma of the hand/wrist. WALANT was performed following a specific protocol. A tourniquet was systematically available on standby. After the procedure, patients and operators were asked to complete a questionnaire. Patients rated pain on a 0-10 numerical analog scale. Surgeons reported their feelings about bleeding and patient cooperation. All patients underwent a nearly painless operation, with a mean pain score of 0.36/10. The mean pain score during injection was 2.57, and postoperatively 5.2. Bleeding complications were reported to be absent or slight by 43% of operators, moderate but acceptable by 47%, and significant by 10%. Bipolar forceps were used in 76% of cases. No digital necrosis or prolonged ischemia requiring the use of phentolamine was reported. WALANT offers a simple, safe, and effective alternative to traditional anesthesia techniques in an emergency setting. Patients and surgeons reported overall satisfaction, with no increase in the complications rate.

Digit Replantation under Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia

BACKGROUND

Digit replantation under wide-awake local anesthesia is a challenging method, and there are only a few works of literature on this procedure. This article describes the authors' clinical experience in finger replantation under wide-awake local anesthesia compared to general anesthesia.

METHODS

Fifty-one patients who received single finger replantation after initial sharp amputation were included in the study, of whom 16 received wide-awake local anesthesia and 35 general anesthesia treatment. The indications for wide-awake local anesthesia were sharp amputation injury, estimated operation time less than 3 hours, and cooperative patients. The wide-awake local anesthesia was performed with 1% or 2% lidocaine infiltrated at the volar midpoint of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the affected digit without sedation medications. Demographic data included surgical outcome, waiting time, operation time, and hospital stay.

RESULTS

A total of 51 consecutive patients were included in this study. There were significantly shorter waiting times and operation times in the wide-awake local anesthesia group. The other parameters showed no significant differences. The overall success rate was 76.47 percent, with a mean overall operation time of 207 minutes.

CONCLUSIONS

In selected patients, finger replantation can be successfully performed under wide-awake local anesthesia, which has lower anesthesia risk and fewer medical expenses than general anesthesia. The method is feasible for single-digit replantation. Therefore, the finger replantation under wide-awake local anesthesia is a practicable alternative to general anesthesia.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, III.

The impact of WALANT anesthesia and office-based settings on patient satisfaction after carpal tunnel release: A patient reported outcome study

HYPOTHESIS

Wide awake local anesthesia with no tourniquet (WALANT) and office-based procedures are used in hand surgery. There are limited literature data on patient satisfaction when comparing methods of anesthesia and location of surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective single-surgeon study with patient reported satisfaction in three groups. We compared patient impressions of anesthesia type; WALANT vs locoregional anesthesia plus sedation. We also compared satisfaction in three surgery settings; office surgery vs hospital ambulatory minor procedure room vs main operating room. Group 1 office surgery patients had ultrasound guided surgery with WALANT. Group 2 main operating room surgery patients also had ultrasound guided surgery with WALANT. Group 3 main operating room patients had endoscopic surgery with sedation and a tourniquet. Each group had 30 patients with a minimum follow up of 2 months. We measured overall satisfaction, satisfaction with the organization of care, satisfaction with the administration of anesthesia, and satisfaction with the quality of anesthesia. We also collected secondary data on the resolution of the neuropathic symptoms.

RESULTS

Procedures performed in an office-based setting showed higher rates of patient satisfaction when compared to the ambulatory day surgery setting. WALANT anesthesia also showed significantly higher rates of patient satisfaction on a numerical analog scale when compared to sedation based on, irrespective of the surgical setting. All patients had resolution of their neuropathic symptoms regardless of the technique performed.

CONCLUSION

We found that carpal tunnel releases performed in an office-based setting produces superior patient satisfaction. WALANT anesthesia also provides improved patient satisfaction when compared to sedation and monitoring techniques, irrespective of the surgical setting and location. Carpal tunnel release with WALANT in an office-based setting is better for patient comfort and satisfaction, with no evidence of lesser clinical outcomes at a short term follow-up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Benefits of WALANT in palliative upper limb surgery after nerve injury

Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) may be a satisfactory anesthesia alternative for the management of upper limb peripheral nerve palsy sequelae. The main advantages are the possibility of active patient cooperation through intraoperative active mobilization, comfort and cost reduction. The legislation about WALANT in France remains unclear; the modalities of lidocaine epinephrine injection should be redefined. For palliative upper limb surgery, WALANT allows the surgeon to adjust the tension on the tendon transfer intraoperatively. Level 1 studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of WALANT relative to standard anesthesia techniques (regional/general anesthesia).

Open Carpal Tunnel Release Under WALANT – Suitable for All Ages?

Purpose

Wide-awake local anesthesia with no tourniquet (WALANT) as a walk-in procedure has become a standard technique in open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) and continues to replace the long-established intravenous regional anesthesia with a tourniquet (IVRA/”bier-block”) in our clinic. The aim of this study was to compare patient satisfaction with either WALANT or IVRA/”bier-block” and define subgroups that are particularly suited for either of the two procedures. We hypothesized that older patients would prefer IVRA because of a shorter period of postoperative surveillance.

Methods

In this retrospective study we evaluated patient satisfaction with either WALANT or IVRA using an adjusted questionnaire on a standard Swiss grading system (from 1 = insufficient/very strong pain to 6 = excellent/no pain). Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain or satisfaction with the tourniquet and quality of postoperative care.

Results

For the 176 patients (WALANT, n = 109; IVRA, n = 67) included in the study, there was high patient satisfaction with both procedures (WALANT, 5.5/6; IVRA, 5.5/6). Patients aged 80 years and older had significantly less postoperative pain after WALANT (WALANT, 5.8/6 vs IVRA, 4.9/6).

Conclusions

Patients aged 80 years and older had significantly less postoperative pain after WALANT than that after IVRA. Here, sarcopenia may have contributed to the prolonged discomfort after tourniquet application. Immediate postoperative discharge after WALANT did not negatively affect older patients.

Clinical relevance

For OCTR, WALANT as a walk-in procedure is a safe and comfortable alternative to IVRA, which is commonly planned with short postoperative surveillance. Both anesthesia techniques are suitable for all ages and sexes but based on this study we recommend WALANT as a tourniquet-free operation in older patients.

Plating of Distal Radius Fracture Using the Wide-Awake Anesthesia Technique

Fractures of the distal radius are one of the most common types of injuries encountered in hand surgery. Plate osteosynthesis is recommended for unstable fractures. Because distal radius fracture fixation is usually performed under general or regional anesthesia with the use of a tourniquet, this exposes patients, especially elderly people with extensive comorbidities, to adverse effects commonly associated with these forms of anesthesia. As such, many of these patients are unable to undergo surgery in a timely manner until they are deemed medically fit for surgery or anesthesia, and some may still be treated nonsurgically. Injecting local anesthetic of lidocaine and epinephrine into the surgical field and without using a tourniquet is known to be advantageous for various surgical procedures of the hand. However, this approach, also known as wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT), has not been used in the fixation of fractures beyond the wrist. Using the WALANT approach as an alternative anesthetic for plating of distal radius fractures may enable patients who are normally denied surgery owing to their age or medical comorbidities to undergo plate fixation for the fractures. This article outlines the WALANT approach used for a single case of fixation of distal end radius fracture with a detailed description of the technique of administering local anesthesia.