Same Day Joint Replacement

For patients who are in good health and eager to accelerate their recovery, Fox Valley Orthopedics offers a modern same-day joint replacement pathway. By utilizing advanced pain management protocols, we can ensure a safe transition from the operating room to the comfort of your own home without an extended hospital stay.

What is Same Day Joint Replacement Surgery?

Same day joint replacement—often referred to as outpatient or short-stay surgery—is a specialized care pathway. It allows eligible candidates to undergo their surgical procedure and return home the same day, eliminating the need for an overnight hospital admission. To ensure a safe and efficient discharge, our clinical team partners with patients who are prepared to follow specific guidelines both before and immediately after their operation.

How Do I Know If I Am Eligible?

Your surgeon will review several criteria with you to determine if this is the right choice for your specific needs. Eligibility is based on more than just medical history; personal readiness also plays a significant role. Generally, the best candidates for our outpatient total joint program are those in good overall health (or those with well-managed chronic conditions) who are highly motivated to recover quickly. Additionally, having a dedicated friend or family member available to provide support at home is a requirement for this pathway.

What Are the Benefits of Same Day Joint Replacement?

Choosing a same-day approach offers several advantages:

The ability to begin your recovery in the familiar and comfortable environment of your own home, which research suggests is beneficial.
Access to aggressive and proactive early pain management.
Higher overall levels of patient satisfaction.
A decreased risk of hospital-acquired infections.

How is This Different From Staying Overnight After Surgery?

Returning home on the day of a total joint replacement requires a coordinated team effort that begins well before you enter the operating room. By providing this education early, we reduce anxiety and ensure you are fully prepared for the day of the procedure.

We also place a heavy emphasis on preoperative hydration. Our specific hydration protocol begins 72 hours before your scheduled surgery and continues until three hours before the procedure; your surgeon will provide the full details of this plan. From the moment you check in, you are placed on a “rapid recovery pathway,” which alerts all hospital staff—from pre-op to the recovery area—of your status. Because Fox Valley Orthopedics is a specialized orthopedic provider, we can implement these streamlined protocols more efficiently than larger, general health systems that must manage a wider variety of non-orthopedic patient needs.

What Should I Expect for My First Night Home?

To ensure your transition is seamless, you will have a comprehensive pain management schedule to follow, and we emphasize the use of ice and elevation as critical components of early recovery. Before you leave the facility, our team will train you on the necessary equipment and techniques required to navigate your home safely and perform daily activities comfortably. We also encourage you to reach out with any questions in those first 24 hours especially.

What Will I Do If I Encounter a Problem While at Home?

During your first night home, you will have the opportunity to discuss any concerns directly with your surgeon via telephone. For added peace of mind, our practice maintains a surgeon on-call 24/7 to handle emergency questions if your primary surgeon is unavailable.

Is Same Day Joint Replacement Safe?

Yes, and it is becoming fairly common. Extensive data and multiple randomized-controlled studies indicate that same-day joint replacement can actually lead to fewer complications and lower readmission rates compared to traditional overnight stays. The key to this success is rigorous candidate selection; while this pathway is not appropriate for every patient, it is highly effective for those who meet the criteria. In fact, more than 94 percent of our patients who choose this option are successfully discharged home the same day.

How Will I Know When I’m Ready to Go Home?

You will work closely with your surgeon and the hospital staff to confirm you have met all safety requirements for discharge. We typically look for a “yes” answer to the following three questions: