Outpatient Joint Replacement
Outpatient joint replacement is a surgery that does not require an overnight hospital stay. Joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which the worn, damaged surfaces of the joint are removed and replaced with new artificial parts. Your doctor may consider a joint replacement if you have severe pain which limits daily activities and is not relieved with medications, injections, physical therapy, or other treatments. The goal of the surgery is to relieve pain and restore the alignment and function of your joint.
Traditionally, joint replacement has been an inpatient surgical procedure. With the introduction of minimally invasive techniques, modern pain protocols, improved anesthetic techniques, and rapid rehabilitation protocols surgeons are able to perform joint replacement procedures on an outpatient basis. Outpatient joint replacement is exactly the same as a traditional joint replacement but the patient is allowed to go home in the first 24 hours after the surgery. This allows patients to recover at home instead of overnight in a hospital. A nurse in the patient’s home closely monitors the patient’s condition and checks vital signs, the same as what is generally performed at the hospital. Physical therapists are also available for in-home patient visits for several days to work with the patient on the range of motion and flexibility exercises.
Not everyone requires or qualifies for outpatient joint replacement. However, for selected patients, outpatient joint replacement surgery is a reality. To be considered for an outpatient joint replacement, a person should have good health (free of any diseases), a high level of motivation during the rehabilitation process, and good family support.
Benefits of Outpatient Joint Replacement Surgery
The benefits of outpatient joint replacement over inpatient traditional joint replacement include the following:
- Decreased hospital stay
- Improved pain management protocols
- Early mobilization
- Careful home monitoring
- Fewer complications
- Improved outcomes
- Increased patient satisfaction
Same Day Hip Replacement
Hip replacement surgery is one of the most common orthopedic surgeries performed. It involves the replacement of the damaged hip bone (ball-shaped upper end of the femur) with a ceramic ball attached to a metal stem that is fixed into the femur and placing a new cup with a special liner in the pelvis. Traditionally, the surgery was performed with a large, open incision and required the patient to stay in the hospital for several days. With advanced techniques, it is now possible to perform these surgeries where the patient is up and walking a few hours after surgery and goes home on the same day.
Same Day Total Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement is the surgical treatment for knee arthritis, where the damaged knee is removed and replaced with an artificial knee implant. Traditionally, the procedure required a postoperative hospital stay of several days, but with recent advances such as improved perioperative anesthesia, minimally invasive techniques, and initiation of rehabilitation protocols soon after surgery, you may be allowed to go home on the same day as the surgery.
