Wide awake hand surgery represents a major advance in the surgical treatment of hand conditions and injuries. Patients can now undergo surgery with reduced sedation, less time spent at the surgery center, a quicker recovery, and less severe side effects related to anesthesia. In addition, this approach to surgery greatly reduces or eliminates the need for pre-operative tests and overnight fasting.

Because of its many advantages, Dr. Steven Bailey recommends wide awake surgery to patients in appropriate cases. Our practice is conveniently located to patients in Kennesaw, Marietta, Atlanta, and other areas of Georgia. To find out if wide awake hand surgery is right for you, contact The Hand Center at Crawford Plastic Surgery today.

Eliminates the Need for IV Sedation or General Anesthesia

Traditionally, IV sedation or general anesthesia is used during hand surgery. With wide awake hand surgery, we administer a local anesthetic, or numbing agent, into the area being treated. Dr. Bailey will inject the appropriate amount of anesthetic in precise locations to maintain your comfort throughout the procedure.

Eliminates the Need for a Tourniquet

A tourniquet is used to compress or constrict bleeding. During wide awake hand surgery, we inject epinephrine into the treatment area to decrease or stop blood flow, doing away with the need for a tourniquet. In the past, experts incorrectly thought that epinephrine was associated with problems such as gangrene and tissue necrosis. This has since been disproved, and today epinephrine is used in many surgical procedures.

Improved Results

By providing the surgeon with the ability to see full active movement during surgery, wide awake surgery has improved surgical outcomes. Dr. Bailey may ask you to move your hand before closing the incisions so he can make adjustments as needed. This helps him achieve ideal tension, less rupture, and better movement for patients.

Improved Safety

The wide awake technique is safer for patients because it does not involve the risks and side effects associated with general anesthesia. Wide awake surgery is also safer for certain patients, such as those that have diabetes and heart conditions, or those that suffer from drug dependency issues.

Quicker and More Comfortable Recovery

Because of the use of local anesthetic, patients do not experience the nausea, fatigue, or dizziness that is associated with general anesthesia and IV sedation.

No Overnight Fasting

Patients typically need to stop eating and drinking after midnight on the day of surgery. Because the use of IV sedation and general anesthesia is eliminated, this is no longer necessary with wide awake surgery.

Reduced Cost

Wide awake surgery is less costly than traditional surgery because there is no need for an anesthesiologist or pre-op tests such as blood work or EKGs. In addition, the procedure time is shorter because there is less prep work involved and patients do not have to spend as much time in a hospital or surgery center.

Wide awake surgery may be recommended for flexor tendon repair, finger fractures, arthritis, and other conditions and injuries that affect the hand. To find out if this surgical approach is right for you, contact The Hand Center at Crawford Plastic Surgery.