Outpatient Back Surgery | Tampa, Westchase & Palm Harbor Florida
Outpatient Back Surgery
Can Back surgery be done as an Outpatient?
The answer is YES. Outpatient back surgery can definitely be performed successfully. There is a lot of hype about Laser surgery, or same day spine surgery. The truth is, if the goals of the operation can be achieved with minor trauma to the skin or muscles, often, you can go home the same day as the surgery.
The picture to the left demonstrates the use of a tubular retractor, that lets surgeons expose the spine, with a small incision. As you can see, the size of the opening is about the size of my thumb. the incision was less than 1.5 inches. As long as you have good vision of the spine, and can achieve the goal of the operation, the trauma to the muscles and skin can be minimal.
There is potentially less pain from the incision and the manipulation of the muscles. As long as there is no increasing nerve pain, or complications, and there is no anesthetic side effects, most patients that have simple one or two level lumbar laminectomy or diskectomy procedures can go home the same day.
Please discuss this option with your surgeon. For more information on laminectomy/diskectomy surgery, go to the section on Surgery Questions, SPINAL ANIMATIONS, or HNP (herniated nucleus pulposus, slipped disk).
Most simple back surgical procedures can be performed as outpatient back surgery. Please discuss your situation with your surgeon to see if you are an appropriate candidate for outpatient back surgery.
Last modified: October 22, 2019
