Digit Replantation under Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Anesthesiology
• Microsurgery

Background:

• Digit replantation under wide-awake local anesthesia is a less-documented procedure.
• This study compares clinical outcomes of finger replantation using wide-awake local anesthesia versus general anesthesia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of finger replantation under wide-awake local anesthesia.
• To compare wide-awake local anesthesia with general anesthesia for digit replantation.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study of 51 patients undergoing single finger replantation.
• 16 patients received wide-awake local anesthesia (1% or 2% lidocaine), while 35 received general anesthesia.
• Indications for wide-awake local anesthesia included sharp amputation, <3-hour estimated operation time, and patient cooperation.

Main Results:

• Significantly shorter waiting and operation times were observed in the wide-awake local anesthesia group.
• No significant differences were found in other measured parameters.
• The overall success rate for digit replantation was 76.47%.

Conclusions:

• Finger replantation under wide-awake local anesthesia is a viable and practical alternative for selected patients.
• This method offers reduced anesthesia risks and lower medical expenses compared to general anesthesia.
• It is particularly feasible for single-digit replantation procedures.