“How long does local anesthesia last for hand surgery?”

Local anesthesia lasts from 1 to several hours, depending of what local anesthetic was used. If you had a nerve block , it can last up to 24 hours depending of which anesthetic was used.

The duration of the local anesthesia depends on the particular anesthetic used by your treating physician. For example, Lidocaine is fast acting, but not as long acting as Bupivacaine. In general, the anesthetic should last as long as the surgery and for a period afterward. Sometimes the anesthetic is not only used for surgery but also for post-operative pain. In those cases, a long acting anesthetic may be used and/or a device that goes home with you to continue to deliver anesthetic and keep you comfortable.