Corrective Osteotomies for Digital Overlap in Phalangeal and Metacarpal Fracture Malunion Using Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) Technique: A Technical Note

Abstract

The use of wide-awake local anesthesia with no tourniquet (WALANT) in surgical procedures of the hand is well described and extends to tendon surgery, carpal tunnel release, trapeziectomy and phalangeal fracture fixation. Its use has not been described in corrective osteotomies of phalangeal or metacarpal fracture malunion. In our series of five patients who underwent phalangeal and metacarpal osteotomies under WALANT, all of the patients achieved union at a mean of 3.5 months and were satisfied with the results. All digital malrotations were corrected. There was an improvement of motion and grip strength by 24% and 29.3% respectively compared to pre-surgery. Corrective osteotomies under WALANT is a safe and effective means of achieving correction of scissoring. With the patient wide awake and cooperating, precise correction of rotational alignment can be ascertained. Concomitant tenolysis allows motion gains to be made over and above the restoration of rotational alignment.