Person working with wood wearing safety glasses and ear muffs.

Innovative treatment for joint pain.

Same-Day Joint Replacement Surgery in La Crosse

Learn about same-day joint replacement surgery:

Hip and knee arthroplasty: what you need to know
Are you a candidate for same-day joint replacement?
Before your surgery
After your surgery

Hip and knee arthroplasty: What you need to know

Joint replacement, clinically referred to as total joint arthroplasty (TJA), can be a life-altering procedure, and greatly reduce or eliminate pain and discomfort, and restore your mobility and function. Total joint arthroplasty of the hip (THA) and knee (TKA) are two of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States.

Thanks in part to state-of-the-art technology and advanced procedures and clinical practices, Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse offers same-day joint replacement for elective hip and knee joint replacement surgery to improve the quality and outcome you will receive.

We've redesigned the orthopedic care experience and are proud to deliver one of the best programs, where you can recover quicker and leave the hospital as soon as possible. The end result is a better overall joint replacement experience for you.

Are you a candidate for same-day joint replacement?

In general, if you are 75 years of age or less, and in generally good health, you are a candidate for same-day hip and knee replacement procedures.

Other criteria for you to be considered for a same-day discharge include:

Body mass index (BMI) of less than 40 kg/m2
Walking without or with limited assistance (cane only) prior to surgery
No recent history of falls
Assistance at home during the recovery and rehabilitation period
No cardiac or respiratory disease for which monitoring is necessary
No untreated sleep apnea
No chronic opioid use or opioid addiction
No history of anesthesia issues
Absence of any condition that would prevent a same-day discharge
Unilateral primary hip or knee replacement patients are candidates for same-day procedures.

Some of the criteria for same-day discharge after hip or knee replacements, for example, the age of the patient, are flexible on a case-by-case basis.

Before your surgery

As with all surgeries at Mayo Clinic Health System, you are the most important member of your healthcare team, and obtaining the best possible outcomes starts with you. You are encouraged to speak up and take an active role in your care. You and your family are welcome to ask questions and learn all that you can about your surgery and recovery.

To be a candidate for any hip, knee or shoulder replacement surgery, patients must first:

Create a patient portal account

Your patient portal account provides you with easy, 24/7 access to important healthcare information, such as test results, clinical notes and medication lists. It also is a way to send a secure message to your healthcare team, view and schedule upcoming appointments, pay bills, and so much more. Create an account today.

Educate yourself

In addition to our well-trained orthopedic surgeons and physician assistants, our nursing team members are excellent resources to help prepare you and your family for total joint replacement. Our team will provide you with a variety of Mayo Clinic educational materials and connect virtually with you, one-on-one, to ensure you are well prepared on what to expect before, during and after surgery.

Receive printed materials

Directly following your surgical consult in the clinic, you will receive a full set of printed materials that will serve as your guide throughout the surgical experience. This easy-to-use packet includes information on how you can prepare for surgery, home exercises, and how to best manage your pain after surgery. Here are a few key brochures you can reference:

Watch education videos on surgery preparation

We understand that everyone learns differently. Here are a few short, yet helpful videos to watch on preparing for surgery.

Plan to have someone help you at home after your surgery

Having the right help at home after total joint replacement surgery is an essential part of the recovery process. We call this person your "coach." Your coach will need to be in your home — day and night — while you recover for the first one to two weeks. Oftentimes, this caregiver is a spouse, adult child, neighbor, friend or other family member. You will want to be comfortable with this person helping you with:

Toileting/using the bathroom
Sponge baths/showering
Dressing/undressing
Preparing your meals
Helping you get in and out of bed
Preparing your medications

We understand that you may not have this type of help available to you. Our Social Work team works directly with you and your family to ensure you have a plan and the right care after surgery.

Surgery day details

Same-day joint replacement surgeries are scheduled earlier in the day to give you as much time as possible to recover from the anesthesia and to navigate all of the postoperative tasks and milestones you will need to complete in order to go home the same day.

The most current and up-to-date anesthesia and surgical techniques are used to promote a comfortable surgery with rapid recovery. These techniques allow you to be alert and engaged immediately after your surgery and be able to drink, have a light snack, and take medications in the very early stages of recovery. The quicker you can regain your strength, the earlier you can achieve mobility and begin your physical therapy process earlier in the day. Early mobility and pain management remain a continued focus of your entire recovery period.

We will continue to care for you well after discharge. Some of our patients need Physical Therapy sessions after being discharged home to help improve mobility.

After your surgery

While you may be an ideal candidate for same-day joint replacement at the outset, each case must still meet all of the rigorous postoperative discharge metrics to be released. Just because you are designated a same-day patient at the beginning of your surgery process does not guarantee you may go home that day. Our goals are always the safety and well-being of you, our patient. Therefore, if your circumstances dictate, your care and discharge from the hospital will be not be rushed.

You will need to be able to:

Move independently or with minimal assistance, and have a caregiver at home
Show you can successfully negotiate stairs if there are stairs at home
Exhibit stable blood pressure and other vital signs
Urinate
Control your pain with oral pain medications

Here are a few short, yet helpful videos to watch on recovery after surgery:

Pain medicine

The La Crosse Pharmacy offers our Meds to Beds program, where you can receive discharge medications prior to going home.

The idea of being in pain after surgery is a normal fear to have. Our team provides pain-reducing measures that start in the surgery center prior to you even entering the operating room. We continue providing pain reducing measures until you are discharged home.

Along with traditional pain medications, alternative pain management strategies such as deep breathing, relaxation, and position changes, are also demonstrated by our team to provide you with optimal pain control.

Prior to being discharged, our provider and nursing teams review the best ways for you to take pain medications to control any pain you may experience while at home. Click here for an educational document that explains pain management options.

The day after your discharge, a registered nurse from the Orthopedics Department will provide you with a follow-up call. This call will address pain management as it applies to your situation, and any additional questions you may have.

Rehabilitation after surgery

Your rehabilitation therapy begins within two hours of your surgery, taking place in the Day Surgery Unit. Your rehabilitation will continue at home for as long as prescribed based on your needs and goals. Planning for and executing your postoperative rehabilitation plan is a collaborative effort between you, your surgeon and physical therapist.

Total joint replacement patients have a two-week, post-operative visit in Orthopedics. This is a face-to-face visit so your care team can assess the incision and bandages. The three-month and one-year post-operative appointments are conducted virtually.

The big picture

Joint replacement procedures — same-day discharge or otherwise — are comprehensive and collaborative pathways of care — from preoperative screening and counseling — through postoperative recovery and outpatient rehabilitation. Our orthopedic surgeons partner with you to optimize your health prior to surgery, to give you the best chance of a rapid recovery and positive outcome.

Not all treatments, tests and services are available at all Mayo Clinic Health System locations. Check with your preferred location in advance.

Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery

Patient Stories