Distal radius fractures (DRF) are common in elderly patients and the incidence continues to increase with the aging of the population. For irreparable fractures in the elderly, treatment with a reduction cast leads to unreliable results and frequent complications when treated with an anterior plate. Recent studies on hemiarthroplasty for elderly complex wrist fractures have resulted in good clinical and radiologic outcomes, as well as high satisfaction rates. Incorporating wide-awake local anesthesia and no tourniquet (WALANT) in surgical management is beneficial in DRF plating. This technique has not been performed in wrist hemiarthroplasty for an irreparable fracture in an elderly osteoporotic woman. This article describes the WALANT procedure for wrist hemiarthroplasty in a single case, with a detailed description of the technique.
Keywords: complex intraarticular fracture; distal radius fracture; osteoporotic fracture; proximal row carpectomy; wrist hemiarthroplasty.