Judi
My husband had the surgery done in 1996 it was done as an out patient procedure. They did put him to sleep. Talk to your Dr. and ask him if you have that option. They put a rod in his hand then took it out. To this day he still has problems with his right hand and sometimes it will bleed and come to the skin service He has another on his other hand but he will not ever have it done again. He still has trouble with the one that was done. Especially in the humidity. Good luck