Intravenous regional anaesthesia in hand surgery - experience with 632 cases.

Practical experience in the use of intravenous regional anaesthesia in hand surgery on 632 patients is reported. The safety of the anaesthesia, the efficacy of the procedure and the patient-comfort are well attested in this study. We recommend that its role should be established particularly in busy orthopaedic surgery departments where both elective and emergency work-loads on hand surgery are heavy.