BECKER’S ASC REVIEW: Outpatient anterior hip replacement surgery: The future is here, by Laura Dyrda

There are more high-acuity orthopedic procedures going to the outpatient setting today, including total joint replacements. Orthopedic technology is developing for minimally invasive procedures, and new pain management protocol and post-surgical care allow patients to leave the outpatient centers within 23 hours after surgery. "It's been a natural progression over many years where we have seen a gradual reduction in the duration of hospital stay after joint replacement," says Robert Greenhow, MD, of Peak Orthopedics & Spine in Lone Tree, Colo. "This has been based on less invasive and improved surgical techniques, use of regional anesthesia and peri-articular injections, less tubes and drains and a reduction in the use of narcotics."