Why can patients go home soon after outpatient surgery?

Patients are going home sooner after outpatient surgery to recover in the comfort of their own homes, this includes joint replacement surgery and spine surgery. There is a combination of reasons why this is possible:

1. The main reason is due to a multimodal pain management approach which may include: a regional anesthetic nerve block to the affected body part, a cocktail of local anesthetic injected at the surgical site and intravenous/oral analgesics. This means providing better surgical pain relief by combining multiple methods of pain relieving interventions. These combinations provide effective pain management for up to 24-48 hours.  The end result for the patient is better pain control, early patient mobilization after surgery, less opioid/narcotic consumption, less negative side-effects and an overall better patient outcome and experience.

Our surgeons have collaborated with a team of anesthesiologists to provide advanced and superior surgical pain management techniques for outpatient surgery. The surgical team (surgeon, anesthesiologist, surgical technicians, nurses and surgical staff) work together to prepare and tailor every anesthesia and pain management plan for each surgical patient.

2. The ‘tourniquet time’ which is the use of a tourniquet during surgery to stop blood flow to the surgical site has been greatly reduced or eliminated. This allows patients use of their limb soon after surgery. Each total joint surgical patient has a physical therapy consultation before they are discharged from our facility to make sure they will be safe as they recover at home. This involves walking a certain distance with a walker, transferring in and out of a chair and vehicle, and using stairs.

3. Patients are also instructed to use Cold Therapy Units or ice packs post-operatively and at home, which may be loaned or purchased prior to surgery day, through our DME, Durable Medical Equipment Department, on-site. Pain and swelling are two of the most unpleasant side effects of orthopedic surgery. Cold therapy is widely recognized as the most effective treatment method to combat these issues, and also helps reduce the need for pain medications. It decreases pain, reducing the ability of the nerve endings to conduct impulses, and provides pain relief by limiting the muscles ability to maintain contraction, which reduces muscle spasms.

4. Patients also feel more confident that they can manage their post-surgical needs at home due to the pre-surgery education classes and support offered to them and their caregivers. Education about what to expect and how to prepare your home is an important part of patient comfort and safety. Missoula Bone & Joint offers these classes at our surgery center.

Home the same day as surgery

Healing at home is an integral part of your surgical process. Studies have shown that patients who go home directly after their surgery:

• Have improved wellness
• Have a faster recovery
• Reach their goals earlier
• Have less infection

What are the benefits of outpatient surgery in Missoula, Montana?

Missoula Bone & Joint is certified by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), and a member of the Montana Ambulatory Surgery Center Association www.ascassociation.org

Outpatient surgery at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) is beneficial to both the surgeon and patient. It is designed to facilitate an efficient and cost effective flow that centers around patient care, and the surgeon is able to work with his hand-picked team of specialists. The smaller environment creates a “family atmosphere” that is pleasant for both staff and the patient.

Our goal is to be the leader in outpatient surgical excellence for Missoula and the surrounding area through our commitment to service, care, compassion, and patient satisfaction. We adhere to a high standard of care in safe surgical practices, advanced techniques, and extremely low infection rates. It’s easy to see why many patients choose Missoula Bone & Joint Surgery Center for their orthopedic surgical care.

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