[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/09\/upmc-jameson-walant\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/09\/upmc-jameson-walant\/","headline":"Orthopaedic Surgeon At UPMC Jameson Offers Wide Awake Hand Surgery Technique","name":"Orthopaedic Surgeon At UPMC Jameson Offers Wide Awake Hand Surgery Technique","description":"Being wide awake during carpal tunnel and other tendon repair surgeries has many benefits and is more convenient for patients. Learn more about WALANT.","datePublished":"2021-09-14","dateModified":"2022-04-26","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/orthopaedics-regions","name":"UPMC Orthopaedic Care","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/orthopaedics-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/orthopaedic-surgery\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/GettyImages-1145121584.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/GettyImages-1145121584.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/09\/upmc-jameson-walant\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Orthopaedics"],"wordCount":502,"articleBody":"Surgery for carpal tunnel, trigger finger, or other hand and wrist conditions once required general anesthesia.With general anesthesia, someone must drive you to and from your surgery. You have to fast before surgery, and you may need preoperative tests and lab work.The whole process can be both anxiety-producing and cumbersome.\u201cWALANT eliminates many of these fears and inconveniences for people,” says hand and upper extremity surgeon Neil Singh, DO at UPMC. WALANT stands for wide awake local anesthesia and no tourniquet.As the name implies, patients are awake the entire time with WALANT. Dr. Singh injects a local anesthesia to numb the area. Patients don’t feel any pain.The procedure also doesn’t require a tourniquet, so there is no discomfort around the arm.What Are The Benefits Of WALANT?With WALANT, you can drive yourself to the hospital, have the procedure, and drive home. (A recent study found that driving after WALANT was safe.) There’s virtually no postoperative recovery time because you don’t have to wake from sedation.\u201cYou can change your clothes and go home,” Dr. Singh says.Because you’re awake the whole time, you also can communicate with the surgeon. \u201cI can check in real time with patients,” Dr. Singh says.For example, he can ask them to move their hand or fingers during the surgery. He also can check range of motion, and make sure the tendon is fully repaired.\u201cIt takes away the guesswork,” he says.Patients can start therapy right away, knowing the surgery was a success. \u201cIt’s very motivating for patients,” Dr. Singh says.What To Expect With WALANT\u201cWe use different techniques to make the injection fairly painless,” Dr. Singh says. There is a drape that keep you from seeing your hand during the operation, he adds. Some patients choose to watch the procedure.\u201cYou even get to pick the music in the room,” he says.A nurse sits with the patient during the surgery. \u201cThe nurses and staff are well trained,” he says. \u201cThey communicate with patients about what’s happening the whole time.”Most surgeries are quick, lasting just 15 minutes or so. That’s not much different than going to the dentist, Dr. Singh says.He acknowledges that WALANT is not for everyone. For some people, being awake causes more anxiety. For anyone who is on the fence, the benefits often encourage them to choose WALANT.WALANT Is Growing In PopularityDr. Singh has special fellowship training in the technique. He currently uses WALANT for more than half of the hand and wrist tendon repairs he does. \u201cIt’s really taken off in hand surgery in the last few years,” he says.Dr. Singh operates at UPMC Jameson, which serves Lawrence County and the surrounding area. With WALANT, people have access to the latest in hand surgery right in their community.For more information about hand and upper extremity surgery at UPMC Jameson, call 724-983-7000.Find out more about orthopaedic care at UPMC Jameson."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"09","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/09\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Orthopaedic Surgeon At UPMC Jameson Offers Wide Awake Hand Surgery Technique","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/09\/upmc-jameson-walant\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]