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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Office-based hand surgery without general anesthesia is winning over patients and surgeons alike. A retrospective review of 437 patients found that WALANT (wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet) surgery using "Lean and Green" custom surgical packs was safe, cost-saving, and highly satisfying — with 99% of patients rating it as good as or better than a dental visit.
Hand surgery doesn't have to mean a hospital stay, general anesthesia, or a mountain of medical waste. A retrospective review of 437 patients found that wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) surgery performed in an office-based setting was safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly — and patients loved it.
Using "Lean and Green" custom surgical packs, the approach strips away the usual pre-op hurdles: no fasting, no preoperative labs, no EKGs, and patients can even drive themselves home. Surgeons also get a bonus — the ability to talk patients through the procedure in real time, turning the operating room into a teaching moment.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Despite decades of outdated concerns about using epinephrine in the hand, WALANT has now been shown to be safe and practical. This model could meaningfully reduce costs, surgical waste, and patient burden — a meaningful step forward for patients, providers, and sustainable surgical practice.
