Outpatient Joint Replacement

Hip or knee replacement — and home the same day.

What is outpatient joint replacement?

Outpatient joint replacement is a total or partial hip or knee replacement where you go home the same day instead of staying overnight in the hospital. The operation itself is the same — the difference is what happens after you wake up.

Around 80% of Dr. Sloan’s primary hip and knee replacement patients go home the same day. For appropriately selected patients, it’s not only possible — it’s often the preferred way to recover.

How is it possible?

Same-day joint replacement wasn’t practical a generation ago. Three things changed:

1. Modern anesthesia and multimodal pain control. Instead of relying on heavy opioids, today’s protocols combine spinal anesthesia, nerve blocks, and non-opioid medications. You wake up more alert, with less nausea and manageable pain — this is the single biggest reason outpatient surgery became possible.

2. Muscle-sparing surgical techniques. Approaches that work around muscles rather than cutting through them mean less tissue trauma and bleeding — and a faster return to walking.

3. Better patient selection and preparation. Not everyone is a candidate — and that’s the point. Careful screening before surgery, clear pre-operative education, and a solid plan for pain control and support at home are what make same-day discharge safe rather than rushed.

Is it safe?

For appropriately selected patients, yes — same-day discharge has a strong safety record, with complication and readmission rates comparable to overnight stays.

The key phrase is appropriately selected. Your overall health, the complexity of your case, your home support situation, and your pain-control plan all factor into the decision. An overnight stay remains the right call for some patients, and there’s nothing second-rate about it — the goal is the safest recovery for you, not the fastest discharge.

What to expect day-of

  • Morning arrival: You’ll check in, meet the team, and review the plan. Most patients receive spinal anesthesia with sedation rather than general anesthesia.
  • Surgery: A primary hip or knee replacement typically takes one to two hours.
  • Recovery room: You’ll wake up, have something to drink, and start moving your new joint.
  • Walking with physical therapy: Within a few hours of surgery, a physical therapist will help you stand and walk with a walker — this is expected, not exceptional.
  • Discharge: You’ll head home once you meet the discharge criteria: stable and safe on your feet, pain controlled with oral medications, able to urinate, and no concerning symptoms.
  • Home that evening: Most patients are home for dinner, in their own bed, with their own bathroom.

What you need at home

  • A capable adult staying with you for at least the first 24–48 hours — this is non-negotiable.
  • Clear walkways: move trip hazards (rugs, cords, clutter) before surgery day.
  • Mobility equipment: a walker for the first days to weeks.
  • Your medications filled and organized before surgery, with the dosing schedule written down.
  • Ice ready to go — icing is one of the simplest and most effective tools for swelling and pain in the first two weeks.

Frequently asked questions

Will I be in too much pain at home?

Most patients are surprised by how manageable it is. The pain protocol starts during surgery and continues at home with scheduled non-opioid medications, backup available if needed. The goal isn’t zero pain — it’s pain controlled enough to walk, exercise, and sleep.

What if something goes wrong overnight?

You’ll go home with clear instructions on what’s normal and what isn’t — and a direct way to reach the care team. When in doubt, call.

Do I need someone to stay with me?

Yes. A responsible adult must be with you for at least the first day or two — to help you get around safely, manage medications, and drive you to follow-up appointments. This is a requirement, not a suggestion.

Is outpatient surgery cheaper?

It can be — avoiding a hospital overnight stay generally lowers the facility portion of the bill. Our office will verify your coverage and expected costs before surgery so there are no surprises.

What if I don’t feel ready to leave?

Then you stay. Discharge is based on meeting criteria, not the clock. If you’re not safe on your feet or your pain isn’t controlled, an overnight stay is always an option — and the right one.

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Schedule a Consultation

Considering hip or knee replacement? Meet with Dr. Sloan to find out if same-day surgery is right for you.

Schedule an Appointment · or call 978-369-5391.