- Premier Spine Care
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
Outpatient Spine Surgery in Kansas City
Most neck and low back operations no longer require a hospital stay. Adrian P. Jackson, MD is Kansas City's only exclusively outpatient, minimally invasive spine surgeon. His patients have surgery in the morning and recover at home that night.
Medically reviewed by Adrian P. Jackson, MD, board-certified, fellowship-trained spine surgeon · Updated November 2026
Appointments are scheduled through workers’ compensation referrals in Kansas and Missouri.
- Home the same dayfor most patients
- Small incisionsmuscle is moved aside, not cut
- 1 to 2 hourstypical time in surgery
- Neck and low backboth are treated on an outpatient basis
The short answer
Outpatient spine surgery means you go home the day of your operation instead of staying in a hospital. Minimally invasive techniques make that possible: smaller incisions, less disruption of muscle, less blood loss and less pain afterward.
It suits most single- and two-level problems in the neck and low back, such as a herniated disc, a pinched nerve or spinal stenosis, in patients who are healthy enough for same-day surgery.
Operations done on an outpatient basis
ACDF
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for a pinched nerve or spinal cord pressure in the neck. Recovery guide.
Cervical disc replacement
A motion-preserving alternative to fusion for selected patients.
Lumbar microdiscectomy
Removal of a herniated disc fragment causing sciatica. Learn more.
Lumbar laminectomy
Decompression for spinal stenosis. Learn more.
Outpatient and inpatient spine surgery
The operation itself is the same. What changes is where you recover.
| Outpatient | Inpatient | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | An outpatient surgery center | A hospital |
| Length of stay | Home the same day | One or more nights |
| Typical procedures | One- and two-level ACDF, disc replacement, microdiscectomy, laminectomy | Multi-level fusions, deformity surgery, complex revisions |
| Recovery setting | Your own home, with clear instructions and a phone number to call | A hospital room, with nursing care |
| Best for | Patients in reasonable health with focused problems | Larger operations, or patients with significant medical conditions |
When an operation calls for a hospital stay, such as a lumbar fusion, it is performed at Premier Spine Care by Dr. Ciccarelli.
What surgery day looks like
- Before
Preparation
Lab work about two weeks ahead, instructions on medications, and nothing to eat or drink after midnight. All nicotine must be stopped.
- Morning
Arrival and surgery
You arrive about two hours early and meet your nurse and anesthesiologist. Dr. Jackson answers any last questions. Most procedures take one to two hours.
- Afternoon
Recovery room, then home
After one to two hours in recovery, once you are awake, comfortable and walking, you go home with a family member or friend.
- That evening
Recovering at home
You have written instructions, your medications and a number to call. Walking begins right away.
Is outpatient surgery right for me?
Safety comes first. Not every patient or every operation is suited to same-day surgery.
A focused problem
One or two levels in the neck or low back.
Reasonable general health
Conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure are well controlled.
Help at home
An adult to drive you home and stay with you the first night.
When a hospital is safer
Significant heart or lung disease, severe sleep apnea, or a larger operation may call for a hospital stay.
Exclusively outpatient
Adrian P. Jackson, MD
Dr. Jackson has practiced spine surgery in the Kansas City area for more than 20 years and has built his practice around outpatient surgery. He treats both the neck and the low back, and he has a special interest in the cervical spine.
- Board certified, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
- Spine fellowship, Twin Cities Spine Center
- Orthopaedic residency, Northwestern University
- Exclusively outpatient, minimally invasive surgery
- Licensed in Kansas and Missouri
- Offices in Overland Park and Lenexa
Questions patients ask
Is outpatient spine surgery safe?
For appropriately selected patients and procedures, yes. Published studies of outpatient ACDF, disc replacement and lumbar decompression report low complication rates. Careful selection of who is a candidate is the key.
What does minimally invasive mean?
It means reaching the spine through the smallest opening that allows the operation to be done safely, moving muscle aside instead of cutting it. The benefits are less pain, less blood loss and a quicker return to activity.
What if I have a problem after I go home?
You leave with written instructions and a phone number. Trouble breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled pain, fever, new weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control should be reported right away.
Where is the surgery performed?
At an accredited outpatient surgery center in the Kansas City area. Our office gives you the location, arrival time and pre-registration steps when your surgery is scheduled.
How soon can I return to work?
After most outpatient neck and low back procedures, our routine protocol allows a restricted return between 3 and 6 weeks for sedentary work, full-time work with restrictions at 6 weeks, and ordinary duties at about 12 weeks.
This page is general education. It does not replace an examination, and it is not medical advice for your situation. If you have severe or sudden symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Keep reading
Appointments for work injuries
Premier Spine Care schedules appointments through workers’ compensation referrals in Kansas and Missouri. Case managers, adjusters and law offices can send a referral online, and the appointment is scheduled within 24 hours. If you were hurt at work, ask your adjuster or case manager about a referral.
Premier Spine Care · Overland Park and Lenexa, Kansas · Serving the Kansas City metro in Kansas and Missouri