Suitability of orthopaedic day surgery in Emilia-Romagna.

: The Emilia-Romagna Regional Authority has encouraged the development of day surgery practice in this healthcare program. This study analyzes the results of the program, with particular attention to the field of orthopaedics, with the aim of defining the type of operations that can be carried out in day surgery. There has been a marked increase in the rate of day surgery operations in all fields of surgery on the whole. However, in orthopaedics, the average rate was lower than the general trend. On the other hand, there has been an increased use of day surgery for some types of operations not included in those indicated by the region. Results of the data analyzed suggest that the use of day surgery for orthopaedics can be extended, and so can the regional indications for operations that can be performed by this method of treatment.