WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet) is a surgical technique that uses local anesthesia and medications to control bleeding, allowing hand surgery to be performed without general anesthesia, sedation, or a tourniquet. One of the unique features of this technique is that patients remain fully awake throughout the surgery and can communicate directly with their doctor.
WALANT can be performed in an operating room or certain outpatient settings to treat various conditions affecting the upper extremities, particularly the hands and wrists. In addition to keeping patients awake during the procedure, this technique offers several benefits, including improved patient safety and more convenient access to hand surgery.
At Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri, hand conditions that may require WALANT can be treated by dr. Jecky Chandra, M.Kes, Sp.OT (K), CIPS, AIFO-K, an orthopedic and traumatology specialist and consultant with particular expertise in treating conditions affecting the fingers, hands, elbows, and shoulders.
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Conditions Commonly Treated with the WALANT Technique
The WALANT technique can be used to treat various orthopedic conditions, particularly those affecting the hands and wrists. Common surgical procedures performed using WALANT include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist.
- Trigger finger, a condition in which the finger becomes stiff or locks when bent or straightened.
- Cysts or ganglions, including procedures to remove cysts from the hand and wrist.
- Dupuytren’s contracture, a condition that causes the fingers to become pulled toward the palm due to thickening of the tissue beneath the skin.
- De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist.
- Mass or lump removal, including the removal of certain lumps that develop in the hand or wrist.
The type of procedure that can be performed using WALANT depends on the patient’s condition, the type of disorder, and the doctor’s assessment following an examination.
Read also: WALANT Surgical Technique: Dr. Jecky Restores Hand Movement After Sports Injury
What Are the Benefits of the WALANT Technique?
The WALANT technique can offer several advantages compared with conventional hand surgery performed in an operating room under general anesthesia. These benefits include:
1. Greater Convenience
Patients undergoing WALANT generally spend less time at the hospital or clinic because the procedure does not require extensive preoperative preparation. Since general anesthesia is not used, patients generally do not need to fast before the procedure.
In certain circumstances, patients taking medications that may affect general anesthesia, such as blood thinners, may not need to stop taking these medications before WALANT. However, decisions regarding medication use should always be made according to the doctor’s instructions.
2. Faster Recovery
WALANT uses local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia. As a result, patients can avoid side effects associated with general anesthesia, such as nausea and vomiting. Because patients remain awake during the procedure and do not receive general anesthesia, they may also be able to return to their activities sooner, according to their doctor’s recommendations.
3. Easier Scheduling
Because WALANT does not require fasting or extensive preoperative testing like procedures performed under general anesthesia, it may be easier to schedule. In certain circumstances, patients may even be able to undergo the procedure on the same day they consult with their surgeon.
4. Immediate Evaluation of Surgical Results
One of the advantages of WALANT is that patients remain awake during surgery, allowing them to communicate directly with their doctor. Patients may also be asked to move their hand or demonstrate hand function during the procedure.
This allows the doctor to directly evaluate hand function and determine whether the surgical result meets the intended goal. This may also support the rehabilitation process after surgery and help optimize the time spent during follow-up appointments.
Read also: Stiff Finger and Difficulty Bending It? Dr. Jecky Offers the WALANT Technique
WALANT Procedure for Hand Surgery
In general, the WALANT procedure for hand surgery involves the following steps:
1. Administration of Local Anesthesia
The doctor administers local anesthesia to the area of the hand that will undergo surgery. When the anesthetic is injected, patients may feel a slight stinging sensation or a sensation similar to a needle prick. This discomfort usually lasts only briefly until the area becomes numb.
2. Ensuring the Surgical Area Is Numb
Once the anesthesia takes effect, the doctor will make sure that the patient does not feel pain in the area being operated on. If additional local anesthesia is needed, the doctor can administer it to an area that is already numb.
3. Performing the Surgery
Once the surgical area is completely numb, the doctor performs the necessary procedure to treat the condition affecting the hand or wrist. Throughout the procedure, the patient remains awake and can communicate with the doctor.
4. Patients May Feel Pressure but Not Pain
Some patients may still feel pressure, movement, or other sensations while the doctor is operating on the hand. However, patients should not experience pain during the procedure.
5. Patients Can Watch the Surgery if They Wish
Because patients remain awake, some may choose to watch the surgery to better understand the procedure. However, this is not required. Patients may instead look away, listen to music, or engage in other activities if permitted by the medical team.
6. Patients May Go Home Soon After Surgery
After the procedure is completed, patients generally do not require a long recovery period at the clinic or hospital as they might after surgery under general anesthesia. When appropriate, patients may go home soon after the procedure based on the doctor’s evaluation and recommendations.
WALANT Hand Surgery at Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri
Treatment of various hand and wrist conditions using the WALANT technique at Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri is performed by dr. Jecky Chandra, M.Kes, Sp.OT (K), CIPS, AIFO-K, an orthopedic and traumatology specialist and consultant with expertise in treating conditions affecting the fingers, hands, elbows, and shoulders, including procedures involving the upper extremities using the WALANT technique.
Dr. Jecky has an educational and training background that supports his expertise in orthopedics, upper-extremity conditions, and pain management. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, and subsequently completed a Master’s degree in Health Sciences at the Postgraduate Program of Hasanuddin University. He also completed the Orthopedic and Traumatology Specialist Medical Education Program at Hasanuddin University, Makassar.
To further develop his expertise, Dr. Jecky completed the Comprehensive Course in Musculoskeletal Pain Intervention and Regeneration at Precursor, Padjadjaran University, Bandung. He also completed subspecialty/consultant training in Hand, Upper Limb and Microsurgery at Dr. Soetomo Regional General Hospital/Airlangga University, Surabaya.
In addition, Dr. Jecky passed the national certification examination in exercise physiology and obtained the AIFO-K (Clinical Exercise Physiology Specialist) qualification. He also holds the international CIPS (Certified Interventional Pain Sonologist) certification from the World Institute of Pain (WIP), obtained after completing the certification examination in Budapest, Hungary.
For patients seeking consultation regarding conditions affecting the hand, wrist, fingers, elbows, or shoulders, including the possibility of undergoing hand surgery using the WALANT technique, Dr. Jecky Chandra is available at Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri at the following times:
- Monday: 08:00 AM–12:00 PM WIB
- Tuesday: 08:00 AM–12:00 PM WIB
- Wednesday: 01:00 PM–05:00 PM WIB
- Thursday: 01:00 PM–05:00 PM WIB
- Friday: 08:00 AM–12:00 PM WIB
- Saturday: 05:00 PM–08:00 PM WIB
To make your visit to Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri more convenient, use the WhatsApp Chat, Book Appointment, or the Care Dokter app, which can be downloaded from Google Play and the App Store. These services make it easier to arrange appointments, check queue numbers, and access other information.
*The information provided on this page is intended for educational purposes and provides a general overview. It does not represent the full range of medical services that may be provided by each doctor. To determine the appropriate treatment for your condition, consultation with the relevant doctor is recommended.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or require further information, please contact our call center at 0811-1900-2000.
References:
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT). (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK570646/). Accessed August 13, 2026.
- Orthopaedic Associates of Manhasset. What Is WALANT? (https://www.orthopaedicassociatesmanhasset.com/blog/what-is-walant/). Accessed August 13, 2026.
- Washington University in St. Louis. WALANT Hand Surgery. (https://plasticsurgery.wustl.edu/patient-care/hand-surgery/walant-hand-surgery/). Accessed August 13, 2026.