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.

Complications after plate fixation of phalangeal fractures.

Purpose: To assess the complications after plate fixation of phalangeal fractures, their correlation with the type of injury, and the outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and the x-rays of 54 consecutive patients with 64 phalangeal fractures treated by open reduction and plate fixation with regard to fracture healing, plate loosening or failure, infection, complex regional pain syndrome, pain, return to work, and range of motion.

Results: In 31 out of 54 patients (57%) and 33 out of 64 fractures (52%), one or more major complications occurred.