From the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base; and the Division of Hand Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic.
Citations 2
Commentary on Nixon M, Zreik N, Bakhit H. Wrist arthrodesis and soft tissue rebalancing in the spastic hand. J Hand Surg. 2023;0(0). doi:10.1177/17531934231205548
Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) | February 17, 2024 | Volume: 49 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 428-429
Summary: Most unstable metacarpal and phalangeal fractures for which operative treatment is indicated can be reduced and stabilized with either open or closed techniques using local anesthetic with epinephrine instead of intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. With the patient wide-awake during surgery, the hand can be taken through active range of motion to assess fracture stability. In this article, the authors review the rationale and technique for wide-awake, local anesthesia, no tourniquet surgery in the treatment of phalangeal and metacarpal fractures and impart pearls to optimize the patient experience and illustrate common fixation techniques using percutaneous Kirschner wires. The intraoperative assessment of fracture stability permits an accelerated, protected–range-of-motion protocol that minimizes postoperative stiffness and facilitates expedient recovery.