wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet
Pronunciation: WAH-lant
Also written as: WALANT — Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet
Surgical technique using local anesthesia without sedation or tourniquet, allowing patient cooperation during hand surgery.
Full Definition
Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) is a surgical approach that uses only local anesthetic injection without sedation, general anesthesia, or pneumatic tourniquet. This technique allows patients to remain fully conscious and cooperative during hand surgery, enabling real-time testing of repair integrity, range of motion, and functional outcomes. WALANT is particularly valuable for tendon repairs, nerve procedures, and reconstruction where intraoperative patient participation improves surgical outcomes. The technique reduces surgical time, eliminates tourniquet-related complications, and allows immediate functional assessment. Proper patient selection and surgeon experience are essential for successful WALANT procedures.
Usage
Usage note: May be abbreviated as WALANT in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "The flexor tendon repair was performed using wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet technique." — Operative report
- "WALANT allowed intraoperative testing of tendon gliding and range of motion." — Surgical technique description