- What is outpatient knee surgery?
- How is outpatient knee surgery different from inpatient knee surgery in a hospital?
- What are the benefits of outpatient knee surgery?
- How safe is outpatient knee surgery?
- How do I know if I can have outpatient knee surgery?
- What to expect with outpatient knee surgery?
- Taking the next step toward outpatient knee surgery
What is Outpatient Knee Surgery?
Knee replacement surgery (arthroplasty), is one of the most common types of orthopedic surgeries in the United States today, with more than 790,000 performed every year.
Doctors have advanced these surgical techniques to the point where, if the patient is healthy, they can conduct partial knee replacement or total knee replacement as an outpatient procedure without an expensive hospital stay, so patients can go home within a few hours of the procedure.
That’s right, it’s now possible that the patient can be safely discharged back to the comfort of their home on the same day that the surgery is conducted.
How Is Outpatient Knee Surgery Different from Inpatient Knee Surgery in a Hospital?
A decade ago, knee replacements required an in-patient hospital stay of about 10-days. Today, typical hospital stays are up to three days; but outpatient knee surgery, which is as safe as surgery done in a hospital, is also about half as costly, and, in most cases can also get you home much more quickly.
How is this possible?
Medical science has advanced knee replacement, making it much more efficient and safer than in the past. We understand the risks of these procedures and have developed ways to minimize them. Orthopedic surgeons do a thorough screening of all knee surgery candidates and can identify those patients who will recover quickly in an outpatient setting. Finally, we have better and more efficient methods of anesthesia, pain control, and physical therapy techniques to get you back on your feet literally the same day of your surgery.
These advancements have allowed us to improve our surgical techniques to the point where outpatient knee surgery is not only possible – there are some clear benefits over having the surgery in a traditional hospital setting.
What Are the Benefits of Outpatient Knee Surgery?
Typical outpatient knee surgery is the same procedure done in a hospital. However, it is conducted at a specially constructed and professionally accredited healthcare surgical suite designed specifically for these procedures.
Some of the benefits of outpatient knee surgery include:
- Improved healthcare outcomes include a lowered risk of postsurgical infection, in part because you stay away from a hospital (and sick hospital patients) but also because of length of stay. Studies have linked longer admission stays with complications. One study showed patients that stayed in the hospital more than three days after knee surgery had higher rates of complications.
- Increased patient satisfaction because outpatient surgery allows you to recover in the comfort of your own home. We all sleep better in our own beds (not to mention avoiding hospital food).
- Lowered medical costs are a huge benefit of outpatient knee surgery. Today, many patients have high out-of-pocket deductibles for insurance. The costs associated with a hospital stay are not inexpensive and they are increasing each year. One study showed the average cost for the exact same surgery in a hospital setting was $8,500 more than having the procedure done as an outpatient.
- Faster recovery is often a benefit because the outpatient procedures use minimally invasive techniques resulting in smaller incisions. The smaller the incision, the faster patients heal and the smaller the scar.
How Safe is Outpatient Knee Surgery?
The current research overwhelmingly suggests that outpatient knee surgery is as safe as traditional surgery conducted in a hospital setting. A strong candidate for outpatient surgery will be healthy and as active as possible with few other chronic or complicating factors.
Candidates will also be motivated to follow post-surgical instructions. Finally, the best surgical candidates for outpatient knee surgery have a strong support system of family and friends to help them stay motivated and heal even faster.
How Do I Know If I Can Have Outpatient Knee Surgery?
If you’re considering outpatient knee surgery, a personal consultation with Travis Clegg, M.D., a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, will help you evaluate if you are a good candidate for this procedure.
After a thorough exam and discussion, we will work together to ensure you have the support you need at home to recover as well as you would in a hospital setting. Together, we’ll discuss:
- Your medical history and your interest in same-day knee replacement surgery
- The condition of your knee and whether outpatient surgery is appropriate
- Your home living situation and possible caregiver support
- Other health and personal factors that may affect surgical outcomes
The answers to these questions will help us determine if you are a good candidate for outpatient knee surgery.
What to Expect with Outpatient Knee Surgery?
Pre-op preparation is key to outpatient knee surgery. Patients who are better prepared recover faster and more safely at home. You will receive extensive education about the procedure and recovery process before you step into the facility.
Getting prepared for surgery may include:
- Getting physically prepared by exercising to strengthen specific muscle groups
- Lowering risks by losing weight, stopping smoking, or eating healthy foods
- Minimizing unnecessary stress
- Rearranging your home to make it “hospital-ready”
On surgery day, you’ll undergo testing to make sure you’re ready for the procedure. You will undergo anesthesia, so your heart, blood pressure, and vital signs will be checked. The surgery itself takes between one and two hours.
After the surgery, you’ll wake up and meet with your surgical team to prepare you for discharge. Your caregiver will drive you homem where you’ll rest and begin the healing process. Over the next several weeks you’ll work with a physical therapist to exercise and regain your strength, while meeting regularly with your doctor to check the incision, range of motion, and overall progress.
Recovery from the surgical procedure generally takes four to eight weeks, although it varies slightly by individual patient.
Taking the Next Step Toward Outpatient Knee Surgery
Knee replacement surgery has come a long way. Instead of spending days or weeks in a hospital bed, you can now have the surgery performed in the morning and be home just after lunch. Thanks to medical advancements, technology, and research, it’s not only possible, but preferable to have these surgeries in an outpatient setting.
You are in very good hands with Dr. Clegg, who developed his own rapid recovery protocols for surgeons and patients. An experienced surgeon, Dr. Clegg has conducted hundreds of successful outpatient knee surgeries and is a leader in the field of orthopedics, teaching other doctors his procedures to help patients recover quickly.
Our outpatient knee surgery program eliminates the need for a hospital stay and supports your recovery effort. We offer an extensive patient education program in addition to our full and expert continuum of care to help you heal. Our goal is your goal: to get you back to mobility and health as quickly as possible.