Wide-awake local anesthesia for open rotator cuff repair: A case report

Improper treatment of rotator cuff tear might result in progression of tear and deterioration of patient function. The rotator cuff tear can be managed conservatively in most cases however surgical treatment is inevitable in persistent patients.

A 45-year-old woman presented to our clinic with shoulder pain and restricted range of motion following a fall from a height three months before the current presentation. Due to the lack of favorable response to conservative treatment and the fact that rotator cuff rupture was traumatic, she became a candidate for rotator cuff repair surgery. Due to financial issues and the patient's refusal of undergoing general anesthesia we considered the WALANT technique. Prior to surgery, we explained the whole procedure to the patient, referring to its pros and cons.

The WALANT procedure is a relatively recent technique that has become widespread in orthopedic surgery in the past decade. The advantages of the WALANT technique are that it is simple, feasible, and safe and that the analgesic is adequate during the operation and for the first few hours afterward (5). Concerns with this method include patient discomfort and pain during surgery, which can be managed by educating the patient and minute-by-minute explanation during the procedure.

We advocate open rotator cuff repair with the WALANT approach as an effective, cost-saving, safe, simple, and quick alternative to general and regional anesthesia for certain patients or with limited anesthetic resources.

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