PurposeOutpatient orthopedic surgery is becoming more common as a method of providing safe and cost-effective medical care. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes between adult patients undergoing outpatient versus inpatient brachial plexus surgery. MethodsA single institution database was queried for patients with brachial plexus injuries undergoing brachial plexus exploration with or without concomitant reconstructive procedures from 2010 to 2022. Outcome measures included 90-day major and minor complications, as well as longer term pain scores and reoperation rates. Multivariate analysis was performed to compare outcomes between the cohorts. ResultsIn a group of 51 adult patients, 36 (70.6 %) were admitted for at least one night following surgery and 15 (29.4 %) underwent outpatient surgery. The cohorts were similar with respect to demographics. When compared to brachial plexus procedures performed between 2010 and 2016, those performed between 2017 and 2022 were 67 % more likely to be outpatient (OR 0.33; p = 0.11). The overall major complication rate during the 90-day episode of care was 11.8 % (n = 6), all of which occurred in the inpatient cohort. There was no significant difference in minor complication rate. 90-day reoperation rate due to complications was 2.8 % in the inpatient cohort and 0.0 % in the outpatient cohort. ConclusionNo prior study has assessed the safety of brachial plexus exploration and reconstruction in an outpatient setting. This study demonstrates that outpatient brachial plexus surgery is a safe option for properly selected patients. Procedures were more often performed outpatient in recent years, reflecting a continuing evolution of our practice.