Wide Awake Hand Surgery

Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) surgery is a technique that allows many common hand procedures to be performed using only local anesthetic, without sedation, general anesthesia, or a tourniquet. Patients remain fully awake and alert throughout the procedure.

A local anesthetic combined with epinephrine numbs the surgical area while naturally controlling bleeding, eliminating the need for a tourniquet, which is often the most uncomfortable part of traditional hand surgery. Because you’re awake, you can actively move your fingers or hand during the procedure, allowing your surgeon to confirm tendon and nerve function in real time.

Carpal tunnel release – Trigger finger release – Cubital tunnel release – Tendon repair – Small mass and cyst excision

No risks associated with general anesthesia or sedation – No pre-operative fasting required – Faster recovery from anesthesia, many patients go home almost immediately after the procedure – Real-time functional testing during surgery – Lower overall cost in many cases

Not every procedure or patient is a candidate for wide awake technique. Dr. Kadzielski will evaluate your specific condition and discuss whether this approach is appropriate as part of your surgical consultation.

Dr. Kadzielski’s extensive hand surgery training includes experience with wide awake techniques, offering patients a more comfortable, efficient surgical experience whenever it’s clinically appropriate.