220 patients scheduled for total hip arthroplasty were randomized to undergo the procedure on either an outpatient or inpatient basis. Outpatients were to be discharged within 12 hours of surgery, while inpatients were allocated to at least a one-night stay in hospital. Patients were assessed for pain on the day of surgery (POD0), postoperative day 1 (POD1), and at 4 weeks. Results demonstrated no significant differences between groups in pain on POD0 or at 4 weeks, but significantly higher pain among outpatients on POD1. There were no significant differences between groups in the incidence of re-admittance/reoperation, or in the number of calls or emails placed to the surgeon's office staff within the first 4 weeks after discharge.