Wide-Awake Surgical Management of Hand Fractures: Technical Pearls and Advanced Rehabilitation

Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Mar;143(3):800-810. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000005379.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesia / methods*
  • Anesthesia, General / adverse effects
  • Anesthesia, Local / methods*
  • Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage
  • Bone Wires
  • Epinephrine / administration & dosage
  • Epinephrine / adverse effects
  • Finger Phalanges / injuries
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal / instrumentation
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal / methods*
  • Fracture Healing
  • Fractures, Bone / rehabilitation
  • Fractures, Bone / surgery*
  • Hand Injuries / rehabilitation
  • Hand Injuries / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Metacarpal Bones / surgery
  • Necrosis / chemically induced
  • Patient Participation
  • Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / etiology
  • Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / prevention & control
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Anesthetics, Local
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Epinephrine