Some major operations still require an overnight hospital stay, but advancements in medical procedures and technology have made such stays less and less common. Today, many orthopedic surgeries can be performed as outpatient procedures at a specialized surgical center. If the option is available for an orthopedic surgery, electing to have it done as an outpatient procedure has multiple benefits.

What is an Outpatient Surgical Procedure?

Outpatient surgical procedures are any surgeries that can be done without an overnight hospital stay. The patient comes into a hospital, or surgical center, and they go home on the same day. They often go home just a few hours later, although exactly when they’re able to leave depends on the duration of the surgery and the immediate recovery period that follows.

Of course, these surgeries are only performed in situations where it’s safe to send a patient home after a procedure. With modern techniques that are less invasive, however, there is an ever-increasing number of operations that can be safely performed as outpatient procedures.

What Benefits Does Outpatient Surgery Offer?

Compared to their inpatient counterparts, where patients do stay overnight in a hospital setting, outpatient surgeries offer several benefits.

First, patients are able to recover in the comfort of their own home. There’s no need to sleep on a hospital bed, listening to beeps all night long or dealing with nighttime nurse proddings. Patients can instead spend time in their own space and often even sleep in their own bed. This does mean patients miss out on the hospital cafeteria’s meals, but perhaps a family member or friend could pick up take-out for a special treat instead.

Second, staying at home may actually be safer than remaining overnight at a hospital in certain situations. Despite hospitals’ best efforts to follow hygienic procedures, these are places where the sick go and there is a potential risk of infection -- which can be an especially significant risk immediately following surgery. If being at home reduces the chances of postoperative infection, that’s certainly a factor that could make it the safer option.

Third, staying home can help keep the expenses associated with a medical procedure much lower than they would be for an inpatient operation. An overnight stay in a hospital is often costly regardless of whether it’s an in-network or out-of-network facility, although out-of-network facilities do cost much more. When a patient spends less post-op time at a facility, they don’t have to pay as much for their aftercare. This difference alone may result in hundreds or thousands of dollars in savings.

Why Choose Prime for Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery?

Prime Surgical Suites offers an array of outpatient orthopedic surgeries in Granite Falls, North Carolina. We have a brand new facility that’s outfitted with state-of-the-art technology, which helps improve outcomes of procedures and reduce recovery times. We also claim some of the best orthopedic surgeons in the region and a highly trained medical support staff. At our CMS-certified facility, we offer expert surgery for a variety of injuries and issues. Our orthopedists operate on:

• Knees
• Shoulders
• Feet
• Trigger fingers
• Rotator cuffs<
• Wrists (carpal tunnel)
• ACLs

Experience the Prime Difference

For the highest level of outpatient orthopedic surgery, contact us at Prime Surgical Suites if you have an ailment that may require surgery. One of our experienced surgeons will assess your injury in a complimentary consultation, and they’ll help you decide whether outpatient surgery is indeed right for you.

At Prime Surgical Suites, we provide state-of-the-art, cost-effective musculoskeletal surgical care in a convenient and comfortable outpatient setting for patients of all ages. Located in RiverCrest Medical Park, we are the region's first outpatient center focused exclusively on orthopedics. Our physician-led center will help restore your active lifestyle and well-being with compassion and orthopedic excellence.