Comparison between Functional Outcomes of Flexor Tendon Repair Under Wide-Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet and Brachial Plexus Block | ||
The Egyptian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery | ||
Article 6, Volume 49, Issue 4, October 2025, Pages 299-304 PDF (660.74 K) | ||
Document Type: Original Article | ||
DOI: 10.21608/ejprs.2025.456997 | ||
Authors | ||
Mostafa Mamdoh Haredy* ; Ahmed Salah Ahmed Mazeed; Omar Muhhamed Hussein* ; Ahmed Gaber Abde El Megeed | ||
The Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University | ||
Abstract | ||
Background: Flexor tendon injuries have long been a significant challenge in hand surgery, with an incidence of approximately 4.83 per 100,000 people. However, debates persist regarding the optimal repair techniques and rehabilitation approaches. Objective: This study aims to gather additional data on the functional outcomes of flexor tendon repair performed under Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) compared to Brachial Plexus Block (BPB). Patients and Methods: All patients who underwent a primary flexor tendon repair had a tendon injury in zone I or II. A total of 30 flexor tendon repairs were done which meet the inclusion criteria. Simple randomization was used that odd numbered patients were operated with WALANT and even numbered patients with BPB. Results: A total of thirty flexor tendon repairs in zone I or II were included in the final evaluation. This group comprised 20 males and 10 females, with an average age of 28 years (SD: 8) and a mean follow-up of 6 months. Age was insignificantly different between the two groups. There was significantly higher mean operative time in group II (BPB) compared to group I (WALANT) (p = <.001). The Pain of Procedure by the mean VAS score was insignificantly different between the two studied groups (p = 0.5) There were insignificant differences between the two studied groups as regard the mean DASH score (p = 0.1). Conclusions: The Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) technique is an effective approach for flexor tendon repair in Zone II, yielding comparable functional outcomes and complication rates to Brachial Plexus Block (BPB). Additionally, WALANT offers significant benefits, including shorter operative time, fewer anesthesia-related delays, and reduced postoperative pain, leading to decreased analgesic use. | ||
Keywords | ||
Flexor tendon injuries; Functional outcomes; Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet; Brachial Plexus Block | ||
References | ||
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