203-patient analysis at DISC Surgery Centers shows 100% discharge within 23 hours with up to 60% lower total episode-of-care costs compared with hospital-based fusion procedures
A new study led by orthopaedic spine surgeon Steven J. Girdler, MD of DISC Surgery Center, shows that even the most complex spinal fusions—anterior-posterior lumbar interbody fusions (ALIF + PSF, also known as 360° fusions)—can be performed safely and effectively in an outpatient setting, achieving substantial cost savings for payers and improved recovery for patients.
The retrospective analysis evaluated 203 consecutive outpatient 360° fusions performed between 2018 and 2024 at a single ambulatory surgery center. All 203 patients were discharged within 23 hours, meeting the definition of same-day surgery. No hospital transfers, blood transfusions, or readmissions occurred in the immediate perioperative period. The average operating time was 167 minutes, and all patients began recovery at home within a day of surgery. Read the abstract