Can You Go Home the Same Day After Shoulder Surgery?

by | Apr 12, 2022 | Patient Education, Shoulder

Hand on shoulder - Can you go home the same day after shoulder surgery?

Shoulder pain is one of the most common types of pain that adults encounter in their lives. It can stem from several different things and, depending on the cause, may require shoulder surgery to be repaired. One of the most common questions that people have regarding shoulder surgery is if they’ll be able to go home the same day as the surgery.

Thanks to advancements in modern medicine, it’s common for most patients to receive outpatient shoulder surgery, meaning they’re not admitted overnight. Advancements in anesthesia, surgical procedures, and recovery methods lead the charge in same-day shoulder surgeries, and Tennessee Orthopaedic Clinics is at the helm.

What Determines if You Can Go Home the Same Day After Shoulder Surgery?

While most shoulder surgeries in outpatient clinics allow for going home the same day, restrictions exist. Same-day shoulder surgeries aren’t for everyone, so certain people may not have the option.

Physical Health and Home Situation

You should be in excellent physical condition to be considered a good candidate for same-day shoulder surgery. You should also have a good base of support at your home and high motivation for the recovery process. Physical therapy typically starts the day after surgery, so you better be mentally and physically ready.

Type of Surgery

The type of surgery you receive is also a big factor in whether or not you can go home the same day as your surgery. Modern surgical techniques such as arthroscopy have gone a long way toward minimizing the invasiveness of shoulder surgery. Nearly all patients under 80 can go home after a shoulder arthroscopy or replacement surgery.

Complications During Surgery

You will not be sent home the day of your surgery if there are complications. While complications are extremely rare in shoulder surgeries, they may include infection, bleeding, shoulder instability, tearing of the rotator cuff, fracture, and loosening of the prosthesis. If these or other complications occur, you’ll be admitted to the hospital for observation.

Reasons That Same-Day Surgery at an Outpatient Clinic is a Possibility

Anesthesia Advancements

Advancements in anesthesia have made it safer and better than ever. Where anesthesia was once used only to put a patient to sleep during surgery, it’s now useful for much more. Multimodal anesthesia has become the new norm for shoulder surgeries, and they’re useful in decreasing pain levels after the surgery. This aids in the recovery process and allows patients to go home on the same day of their surgery.

Shoulder arthroscopy and similar surgical procedures are minimally invasive and do little damage to the overall structure of the shoulder. If your condition can be repaired with this procedure or a similar one, you can typically go home the same day of your shoulder surgery.

Available Aftercare

At-home care and physical therapy advancements also allow people receiving shoulder surgery to go home the day of. Physical therapy is essential to regaining your repaired shoulder’s full movement and function, and Tennessee Orthopaedic Clinics employ some of the best therapists in the state.

How Long Do You Stay in the Hospital After Shoulder Surgery?

Many opt for outpatient surgery at Tennessee Orthopedic Clinic rather than in a hospital because of same-day surgeries. Hospitals typically don’t offer same-day shoulder surgery as an option. You will usually have to stay at the hospital for anywhere from 1 to 3 days after your operation so that they can keep an eye on you.

However, Tennessee Orthopedic Clinic is an outpatient clinic offering shoulder surgery where you can go home the same day. This allows you to recover in the comfort of your home rather than at a hospital. It will also save you a ton of money if your insurance doesn’t cover extended hospital stays.

Benefits of Same-Day Shoulder Surgery

Same-day shoulder surgery has many benefits, leading many people to pursue it as an option. Here are some main benefits of going home the same day you undergo shoulder surgery:

  • Improved pain management
  • Less risk of complications
  • Recovery in the comfort of home
  • Surrounded by your loved ones
  • Improved outcomes for patients
  • No extended hospital stay medical bills

If you’re located in Tennessee and want same-day shoulder surgery, look no further than Tennessee Orthopaedic Clinics. We have some of the best shoulder surgeons in the country and specialize in all types of shoulder surgeries and conditions. We serve patients from Knoxville, TN, Oak Ridge, TN, Lenoir City, TN, and Sevierville, TN.

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