Cyrus Morrison, MPH, CSCS
Data Analyst | DocSpera
Since our original analysis (January 2023-June 2025), DocSpera has continued tracking outpatient procedure trends. The updated dataset now includes 12 additional months of follow-up, totaling 167,141 joint replacement cases performed by 241 high-volume surgeons over 42 months (January 2023-June 2026).
The new data reinforce the previously reported trend. Across the full 42-month window, the cumulative proportion of outpatient procedures rose to 55.2%, up from 53% in the original analysis. More notably, the pace of the shift has quickened: linear regression over the full timeline shows a slope of 0.30 percentage points per month, compared to the 0.21 percentage points per month observed through June 2025.
The twelve months from July 2025 through June 2026 showed a sustained elevation in outpatient volumes, averaging 60.5% outpatient, well above the 52-55% range in the original study period. The lowest month in the new range corresponds with the ceiling in the old period, emphasizing the upward trend.
These findings are consistent with the projections cited in our original analysis – that over 50% of same-day discharge total joint arthroplasty (TJA) would occur in outpatient settings by 2026. The data now confirm that threshold has not only been reached but exceeded across our high-volume surgeon cohort. For surgical centers and health systems, this continued acceleration underscores the urgency of capacity planning, staffing alignment, and patient selection protocols for the outpatient setting.