Use of Wide-awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet in Hand and Wrist Surgery.

WALANT (wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet) appears to be a safe and effective anesthesia technique for many hand and wrist surgeries. Patient satisfaction is high because of the avoidance of preoperative testing and hospital admission. Postoperative recovery is rapid, and procedures can be done in outpatient settings, resulting in substantial savings in time and money.

Biologic Approaches to Problems of the Hand and Wrist.

Orthobiologics are not used as frequently in the hand and wrist as in other sites. The most frequently reported is the use of bone morphogenetic protein for the treatment of Kienböck disease. Animal studies have described improved tendon healing with the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), but no clinical studies have confirmed these results. PRP has been reported to produce improvements in the outcomes of distal radial fractures and osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal in small numbers of patients. The use of orthobiologics in the hand and wrist are promising, but clinical trials are necessary to establish efficacy and safety.

Autologous Blood and Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis.

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is a frequent cause of elbow pain; most patients (80%-90%) are successfully treated with standard nonoperative methods (rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, bracing, and physical therapy). Autologous blood injections and platelet-rich plasma injections are the two most frequently used orthobiologic techniques in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. Studies of the effectiveness of autologous blood injections and platelet-rich plasma report varying outcomes, some citing significant clinical relief and others reporting no beneficial effect. More research is needed to determine how to best use orthobiologics in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis.

Meniscal Allograft Interposition Combined with Proximal Row Carpectomy.

Background Proximal row carpectomy (PRC) is contraindicated in wrists with preexisting arthritis of the proximal capitate or radiolunate fossa. Patients with these conditions frequently pursue wrist arthrodesis with its associated functional limitations. Questions/Purposes The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of using lateral meniscal allograft interposition (LMAI), in combination with PRC, in patients with symptomatic wrist arthritis. The primary question is whether this allograft will allow wrist function comparable to that in patients having only a PRC. A secondary question was to determine the short-term longevity of the allograft. Patients/Method Between 2006 and 2012, nine wrists underwent PRC with LMAI. Patient demographics and rates of complication or graft failure were determined. During independent clinical exams, functional outcomes were reviewed, patients completed a Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores, and radiographs were taken. Results Four patients met the inclusion criteria, having clinical follow-up at an average of 4.2 years. DASH scores at the time of follow-up ranged from 9 to 33, with an average of 24. Average radiocapitate joint space in the first postoperative radiograph was 2.8 mm compared with 1.8 mm at the time of final follow-up. No wrists went on to arthrodesis. Conclusion Early outcomes of PRC with LMAI are comparable to those results found in the literature of PRC alone. LMAI with PRC may be a valid short-term option as a motion-preserving procedure in those patients contraindicated to having a PRC alone. Level of Evidence Level IV.