WALANT in Distal Radius Fracture Osteosynthesis

The purpose of this study is to assess the applicability and potential benefits of Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) or Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet ("LANT) versus locoregional anesthesia (LRA) and tourniquet in osteosynthesis of distal radius fractures (DRF) during the immediate postoperative period. Our hypothesis is that being able to avoid the use of a limb tourniquet in such a procedure may cause less swelling and better surgical wound appearance in the immediate postoperative period, without compromising pain level, patient satisfaction, or improving the number of complications. In this regard, prospective randomized study was designed comparing short term results of patients who were operated using WALANT (A) to locoregional anesthesia (LRA) and tourniquet (B). Main outcomes were pain, swelling and patient satisfaction. Surgical wound bleeding,mobility, surgeon's technical difficulty, insufficient anesthesia and complications were also evaluated.