Surgery in the morning. Your own bed that night.

For many spine problems, an overnight hospital stay is no longer part of the deal. Dr. Vemuri has done minimally invasive spine surgery, including fusions, in ambulatory surgery centers since 2014, and does disc surgery, decompressions, endoscopic surgery, neck surgery and single-level fusions that way: you arrive, have your surgery, recover for a few hours, and go home. He has done more than 1,000 outpatient spine procedures in five years, with the same surgeon at every step from first visit to follow-up. No referral needed, and same-week appointments are available. Hablamos español: (502) 362-1780.

Call (502) 242-6370

1,000+

Outpatient procedures in five years

Home

The same day, for most outpatient procedures

Surgeon, from first visit to follow-up

5,000+

Spine surgeries by Dr. V

1,000+

Outpatient procedures in five years

Home

The same day, for most outpatient procedures

Surgeon, from first visit to follow-up

5,000+

Spine surgeries by Dr. V

Why we do it this way.

Less is more

Smaller incisions, less tissue damage, more of your natural anatomy left alone. That's the whole philosophy of the practice, and outpatient surgery is what it looks like in practice.

One surgeon, start to finish

Dr. Vemuri sees you at the first visit, reads your imaging with you, does the surgery, and sees you at follow-up. Not a rotating cast.

No hospital markup

miiSpine is independent and physician-owned. Decisions about your care are made here, by the surgeon treating you, and you'll know what it costs before you book.

What outpatient spine surgery means.

Outpatient means you aren't admitted to a hospital. The surgery is done at a surgery center, you recover there for a few hours, and you go home the same day. What makes that possible is the way the surgery is done: small incisions, and instruments that move muscle aside instead of cutting through it. Less tissue is disturbed, so there's less blood loss and less pain afterward, and you don't need a hospital bed to get through the first night. It also means you recover at home, in your own routine, instead of in an unfamiliar building.

Dr. Venu Vemuri at miiSpine in Louisville

What to expect.

Before

A visit with Dr. Vemuri, your imaging reviewed with you in the room, and a plain answer on whether surgery is needed and whether it can be outpatient. Most back pain never reaches an operating room.

The day of surgery

You arrive in the morning, have the procedure, and spend a few hours in recovery. A responsible adult drives you home and stays with you the first night.

After

You get a written plan for activity, driving and work, and a direct line to the office. If anything doesn't feel right, you call us, and someone picks up.

Who it's for.

You've been told you need surgery

And you'd like to know whether it can be done with a smaller incision and no hospital stay. Bring the recommendation and your imaging.

Conservative care hasn't worked

Therapy, medication or injections have been given a fair try, and the leg pain, arm pain or weakness is still there.

You want one surgeon who knows your case

The same doctor at the consultation, in the operating room and at follow-up, who reads your imaging with you rather than sending a portal message.

Surgeries done without an overnight stay.

Microdiscectomy for a herniated disc. Decompression for spinal stenosis. UBE endoscopic surgery through two small openings. ACDF and cervical disc replacement in the neck, for single-level and some two-level cases. Minimally invasive lumbar fusion for a slipped or unstable level. SI joint procedures for pain that comes from the joint between the pelvis and the spine. Not every patient is an outpatient candidate: your health, your anatomy and the size of the operation all count, and Dr. Vemuri will tell you plainly which group you're in.

Questions about outpatient spine surgery.

Is outpatient spine surgery safe?

For the right patient, yes. The key is selection. Dr. Vemuri looks at your health, your anatomy and the size of the operation before deciding, and if you're safer with an overnight stay, that's what he'll recommend.

Will I really go home the same day?

For most patients scheduled as outpatient, yes, within a few hours of surgery. You'll need a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you the first night.

What if I need to stay overnight after all?

It's uncommon in patients selected for outpatient surgery, but if Dr. Vemuri or the anesthesia team decide you should be observed, arrangements are made. Your safety comes before the schedule.

How long does recovery take?

It depends on the operation and on you. A microdiscectomy and a fusion are very different recoveries. Dr. Vemuri gives you a written plan for your procedure rather than a generic timeline.

Which surgeries can be outpatient?

Microdiscectomy, decompression for stenosis, UBE endoscopic surgery, ACDF and cervical disc replacement, single-level minimally invasive lumbar fusion, and SI joint procedures, for appropriately selected patients.

¿Hablan español?

Sí. Llame al (502) 362-1780, las 24 horas, o visite miispine.com/accidentes.

Where is the surgery done?

At a surgery center in Louisville, not a hospital. We'll give you the address and arrival time when we schedule you. Consultations are at the miiSpine office on New Dutchmans Pkwy.

Do I need a referral?

No. Call (502) 242-6370 or request an appointment online. Same-week appointments are available.

Does insurance cover outpatient spine surgery?

Most major plans cover it when it's medically necessary, and miiSpine accepts most major plans. Our team checks your benefits before surgery. If you're paying cash, we'll give you the price before you book.

This content is for general information and isn't a substitute for a medical evaluation. Every spine is different. Talk to a spine specialist about your specific symptoms.

5,000+

Spine surgeries

4,000+

Office visits per year

1,000+

Outpatient spine surgeries

Dr Venu
Vemuri

Dr. Venu Vemuri, D.O. (Dr. V) is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon and is board-certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery. He opened miiSpine in 2021 as an independent alternative to corporate medicine. He has performed more than 5,000 spine surgeries, including more than 1,000 outpatient procedures in the practice's first five years, and has done minimally invasive spine surgery in ambulatory surgery centers since 2014.

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Outpatient spine surgery

Find out if your surgery can be done without a hospital stay.

Surgery in the morning. Your own bed that night.