Definition - "Minor" surgery is any invasive operative procedure in which only skin or mucous membranes and connective tissue is resected, e.g., vascular cutdown for catheter placement, implanting pumps in subcutaneous tissue. Also included are procedures involving biopsies or placement of probes or catheters requiring the entry into a body cavity through a needle or trocar in combination with a "minor" surgical procedure, e.g., the placement of electrodes into the CNS through reflected skin and a burr hole in the cranium, so long as the dura is not resected. Procedures in which the surgical field cannot be effectively disinfected, e.g., tooth extractions and gingival grafts, are considered "minor".

Standards - "Minor" surgical procedures may be performed in a laboratory setting using appropriate aseptic technique. This includes a clean work area; preparation of the surgical site including clipping of the hair, disinfection of the skin and draping of the surgical site with sterile drapes; the use of sterile supplies and instruments; and sterile gloves and a surgical mask worn by the surgeon and any assistants working in the surgical field.

Some surgeries that children undergo are considered minor. The recovery time is short and children return to their usual activities rapidly. These surgeries are most often done as an outpatient, and children can return home the same day. Complications from these types of surgeries are rare. Examples of the most common types of minor surgeries may include, but are not limited to, the following: