What are the top 5 major surgeries?

Asked by: Finn Upton  |  Last update: September 24, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (41 votes)

The 10 Most Common Surgeries in the U.S.
  • Joint Replacement. ...
  • Circumcision. ...
  • Broken Bone Repair. ...
  • Angioplasty and Atherectomy. ...
  • Stent Procedure. ...
  • Hysterectomy. ...
  • Gallbladder Removal (Cholecystectomy) ...
  • Heart Bypass Surgery (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft)

What are the top 3 riskiest surgeries?

Which Surgical Procedures Are the Most Dangerous?
  • Brain surgery. One of the most dangerous procedures is any type of surgery on the brain or skull. ...
  • Heart surgery. ...
  • Cancer surgery. ...
  • Transplants. ...
  • Spinal cord surgery. ...
  • What if my doctor made a mistake during my surgery?

What surgeries take the longest to recover from?

Two surgeries with the longest recovery time mentioned on this page are Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and Lumbar Spinal Fusion. Recovery from a TKR can be quite lengthy, spanning from 3 months to one full year. It's important to note that knee injuries, in general, tend to have extended recovery periods.

What is the hardest surgery to perform?

What is the hardest surgery in the world? The hardest surgery in the world is often considered to be complex neurosurgery, particularly procedures like brain tumor removal or deep brain stimulation, due to the intricate nature of the brain's anatomy and the high risk of complications.

What is the most common major surgery?

Some of the most common surgical operations done in the United States include the following:
  • Appendectomy. ...
  • Breast biopsy. ...
  • Carotid endarterectomy. ...
  • Cataract surgery. ...
  • Cesarean section (also called a c-section). ...
  • Cholecystectomy. ...
  • Coronary artery bypass. ...
  • Debridement of wound, burn, or infection.

Top 10 Operations in the United States

36 related questions found

What is the mother of all surgeries?

So extensive, in fact, that the procedure has a nickname: MOAS — The Mother of All Surgeries — in which every organ affected by the cancer is taken out. In Diaz's case, this included her appendix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, spleen and sections of her intestines.

What is the number one most painful surgery?

Most painful surgeries
  1. Open surgery on the heel bone. If a person fractures their heel bone, they may need surgery. ...
  2. Spinal fusion. The bones that make up the spine are known as vertebrae. ...
  3. Myomectomy. ...
  4. Proctocolectomy. ...
  5. Complex spinal reconstruction.

What surgeries fail the most?

Surgeries that have high failure rates:
  • Hiatal hernia which is intended to fix the problem of the stomach protruding out of the diaphragm space into the esophageal area.
  • Hip resurfacing utilizes a metal cup that fits over the ball of the femur. ...
  • Grafts involve replacing patches of skin with treated cadaver tissues.

Which surgeries are considered high risk?

Procedures with major impact on hemodynamics, fluid shifts, possible major blood loss
  • Aortic surgery.
  • Cardiac surgery.
  • Intra-thoracic procedures with lung resection.
  • Major transplant surgery (heart, lung, liver)

What surgery has the lowest survival rate?

Mortality rates and procedure volume

The higher risk procedures included upper GI cancer resection, colorectal cancer resection and elective aortic aneurysm repair (mortality rate 2.2–4.5%, table 1). Lower risk procedures were bariatric surgery, thyroidectomy and hip replacement (mortality rate 0.07–0.4%, table 1).

What body part takes the longest to heal after surgery?

Nerves typically take the longest, healing after 3-4 months. Cartilage takes about 12 weeks to heal. Ligaments take about 10-12 weeks to heal. Bones take about 6-8 weeks to heal on average.

What is the most painful day after surgery?

Day 3 After Surgery

The inflammatory response tends peak during this time and can lead to increased pain. Also, by day 3 many patients are trying to wean themselves off of pain medication and pain can escalate. Once pain gets to a certain level, it is very hard to play catch up.

What is the most unnecessary surgery?

The most common unneeded operations each year in the U.S. are the following5: heart stents. pacemakers. back (spine) surgeries.

What age is considered high risk for surgery?

With each passing year after age 65, older adults are increasingly vulnerable to complications and readmission after surgery, says geriatrician John Burton. Many have multiple chronic conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis, and may have depression or dementia.

What is the most expensive surgery?

Heart Transplant: The Costliest Procedure

Heart transplants top the list as the most expensive medical procedure in 2024. The complexity of the surgery, the need for donor matching, and the lifelong post-transplant care contribute to the high cost.

What is the hardest surgery to have?

One of the most complex surgeries that patients can undergo is surgery related to the liver, pancreas, and gastrointestinal system. The surgery itself is a lengthy and complex process and requires a team of specialists to carry out the operation.

What is level 1 surgery?

To be verified as a Level I trauma center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), a hospital must be a comprehensive regional resource that is essential to the area's trauma system. It must be able to provide total care for all aspects of traumatic and critical injuries — from prevention through rehabilitation.

Which surgery is most critical?

The 6 Most Complicated Medical Surgeries
  1. Thoracic Aortic Dissection Repair. Thoracic aortic dissection repair is an emergency procedure to repair a tear in the aorta, your body's main artery. ...
  2. Craniectomy. ...
  3. Coronary Revascularization. ...
  4. Surgical Ventricular Restoration. ...
  5. Septal Myectomy. ...
  6. Spinal Osteomyelitis Surgery.

What is the most painful operation to have?

Orthopedic Surgeries: Orthopedic surgeries are commonly associated with a high level of pain due to the nature of musculoskeletal interventions. Procedures such as joint replacement, spinal fusion, or bone fracture repair often involve extensive tissue manipulation, which can cause intense discomfort.

What is the #1 surgery in the nation?

An appendectomy is the most common surgery in the US when it comes to general surgery.

What is the most difficult branch of surgery?

Neurosurgery is known to be particularly challenging because of the intricate nature of the nervous system and the significant risks involved in surgical procedures.

What is the riskiest surgery?

A craniectomy is a type of brain surgery and one of the riskiest surgeries. This medical procedure involves the removal of part of your skull to relieve any pressure on your brain. Although modern technology means it is a more common procedure, it is still very risky.

What is the most painful injection?

Vaccine injections are the most common painful needle procedure experienced throughout the lifespan. Many strategies are available to mitigate this pain; however, they are uncommonly utilized, leading to unnecessary pain and suffering.

Which surgery is worse, knee or shoulder?

If you average out a thousand people that have had their shoulder and their knee replaced, um, at least 70 to 80% of the shoulder replacements will have had a quicker, simpler, less painful recovery with a better overall outcome in terms of how much better their joint feels now.