Arthroscopy-assisted repair of distal radius (wrist) fractures using WALANT anesthesia

Wrist Fractures Management With Arthroscopic Assistance Under Walant - Exploratory Study

Not applicable Interventional GCS Ramsay Santé pour l'Enseignement et la Recherche · NCT06379555

It will try using wrist arthroscopy together with WALANT (wide-awake local anesthesia, no tourniquet) to repair displaced articular distal radius fractures in adults treated as outpatients.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment12 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
SponsorGCS Ramsay Santé pour l'Enseignement et la Recherche Academic / other
Locations1 site (Versailles)
Trial IDNCT06379555 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This exploratory interventional study combines wrist arthroscopy with WALANT (wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet) during surgical repair of displaced intra-articular distal radius fractures. Surgeons use arthroscopy to inspect and treat carpal ligament injuries and to guide fracture reduction to eliminate joint surface "step-offs", while WALANT provides local anesthesia without a tourniquet so the patient remains awake and the limb remains mobile. The trial enrolls adults aged 18–70 with unilateral displaced articular distal radius fractures treated in an ambulatory setting and excludes those with prior wrist surgery, multiple or bilateral fractures, pathological bone, or inability to consent. Outcomes focus on surgical precision, ability to treat associated ligament lesions, patient comfort, and recovery time following the combined approach.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults 18–70 with a unilateral displaced intra-articular distal radius fracture who are suitable for ambulatory surgery and have no prior wrist surgery or infection.

Not a fit: Patients with multiple or bilateral fractures, associated other fractures, pathological bone conditions, prior wrist surgery or infection, or those requiring inpatient care or general anesthesia are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve joint surface alignment, allow immediate treatment of ligament injuries, reduce anesthesia-related risks, and speed functional recovery and discharge.

How similar studies have performed: Wrist arthroscopy and WALANT have each shown benefits in hand and wrist surgery, but combining arthroscopy-assisted distal radius fixation under WALANT is relatively novel and not yet widely studied.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient, male or female, aged ≥ 18 and \< 70 years
* Patient with a displaced articular fracture of the distal radius (unilateral wrist fracture)
* Patient treated on ambulatory way
* Patient affiliated to or beneficiary of a social security system
* French speaking patient, having signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient with previous infection or wrist bone surgery
* Patient with multiple fractures or with bilateral wrist fractures
* Patient with associated fracture with the wrist fracture
* Patient with "pathological" bone
* Protected patient: adult under guardianship, curatorship or other protection legal, deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision
* Patient hospitalized without consent

Where this trial is running

Versailles

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Wrist Fractures
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.