Is Wide Awake Hand Surgery for the right option for you?
If you are in need of surgery for your hand or wrist, you may be concerned about the side effects of general anesthesia which can include:
- temporary memory loss or confusion
- nausea and vomiting
- chills and dizziness
- breathing problems
Fortunately, another surgical option exists for your hand or wrist condition.
What is Wide Awake Hand Surgery?
Wide awake hand surgery, in essence, is surgery where a local anesthetic is used instead of a sedative or general anesthetic during treatment of various hand and wrist conditions. This allows you to be comfortably awake for the whole procedure. Your surgeon is better able to control bleeding and can safely extend the surgical time. Further, it provides an option for people who cannot undergo traditional general anesthesia due to an underlying medical condition. You are also able to interact with your surgeon and fully comprehend your post-operative instructions.
Benefits over General Anesthesia
The biggest benefit of wide hand awake surgery is being able to test the surgical results while modifications can still be made to the procedure. This can be helpful for conditions such as:
- trigger finger release
- carpal tunnel
- tendon repair
In addition to improved surgical outcomes, this method also avoids both the preoperative testing and the post-operative grogginess. This surgery also does not require preoperative fasting and there is less swelling and pain after the surgery. Overall, it allows you to get the best results possible with the least amount of stress, anxiety, and discomfort.
Wide Awake Hand Surgery Physician
Dr. Dale Cassidy is part of the Hand and Upper Extremity Center at Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group. He is a pioneer in the field of wide awake hand surgery with a goal of minimizing patient exposure to anesthesia in order to optimize patient recovery time, while still providing completely comfortable care. Dr. Cassidy’s additional training makes him extraordinarily well qualified to render care for traumatic injuries as well as chronic and degenerative disorders of the hand and wrist. He is a member of several highly respected medical organizations including the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Association of Hand Surgery, and El Paso County Medical Society. Call today to schedule your initial evaluation.
