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ISSN 1405-0625 (Print)

2025, Number 4

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Cir Plast 2025; 35 (4)

WALANT protocol versus conventional anesthesia in carpal tunnel surgery: a comparative study

Herrera-Sánchez AH, García-Espinoza JA, Barlandas-Quintana E, Dávila-Díaz R, Márquez-Espriella C, Alvarado-Sosa JA, Rodríguez-Gómez SA

Language: Spanish
References: 10
Page: 155-159
PDF size: 390.37 Kb.


ABSTRACT

The Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet Technique (WALANT), which uses lidocaine with epinephrine at the surgical site, is widely applicable in hand surgery. Through an observational, analytical and retrospective study that compared the efficacy and safety of the WALANT protocol with conventional anesthesia in carpal tunnel release surgeries at the PEMEX Central South High Specialty Hospital (2023-2024). Patients were classified into two groups according to the type of anesthesia used, and postoperative pain, complications and return-to-work time were evaluated through surveys and electronic medical records. The analysis involved a comparison mean and χ2 tests, using a 5% significance level with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Patients treated with WALANT showed significantly lower perioperative pain (2.68 ± 0.47 vs 4.55 ± 1.09; p = 0.000) and a trend toward shorter return-to-work time (14.47 ± 4.6 vs 17.1 ± 4.17 days; p = 0.089). They also showed higher overall satisfaction, with 85% "very satisfied" compared to 0% in the control group (p = 0.02). The WALANT technique proved to be more effective than the conventional one without increasing the risk of complications. The results are consistent with those reported in national and international studies.


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