Orthopedic surgeons are facing several challenges that could be leading them to step away from the field.

Challenges with insurance reimbursement and authorizations could be contributing to orthopedic surgeons leaving the field, according to Jonathan Koenig, MD.

Innovation with new technology such as augmented reality and robotics will have a great impact on competition in the orthopedic surgery industry, according to Alex Vaccaro, MD, PhD.

Spine surgery competition is evolving this year thanks to changes in workforce saturation and the addition of new spine centers.

In February 2023 Durham, N.C.-based EmergeOrtho, Indianapolis-based OrthoIndy and Seattle-based Proliance Surgeons came together to form PELTO Health Partners, an orthopedic group free of outside capital.

Value-based care is a hot topic in orthopedic care, but its lack of consensus among payers, patients and physicians has been an obstacle, Michael Havig, MD, said.

Innovation has grown in the spine device market, and many companies are looking toward more minimally invasive and motion preserving options. Five spine surgeons discuss their expectations for the spine medtech market in the near future.

More spine surgeries are migrating to ASCs, and the outpatient setting has been ideal for minimally invasive procedures. But work still needs to be done to optimize complex spine cases for ASCs. 

Awake spine surgery, which uses regional anesthesia instead of general anesthesia, has gained more interest and adoption in recent years, and the momentum is unlikely to abate. 

Ozempic and Wegovy, GLP-1 weight loss drugs, have risen in popularity and are grabbing the attention of orthopedic surgeons.

Paul Tornetta III, MD, PhD, has been involved with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons for more than 25 years, and he's seen how the orthopedic landscape and its challenges have changed.

Rothman Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital in Bensalem, Pa. was ranked as the best hospital in the state for joint replacement, and a key factor to achieving that honor lies in a holistic approach to care, according to Max Courtney, MD.

Allowing physicians to have ownership in the places they work can make ASCs more attractive in recruiting, spine surgeon Stephen Hochschuler, MD, said. 

The popularity of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic has skyrocketed over the past few years. 

Physician recruitment isn't the only obstacle for spine practices and health systems. Surgical technicians have been another challenging position to recruit for.

The continuing wave of orthopedic and spine procedures to ASC settings has one surgeon concerned about the impact that will have on both surgeons and patients.

Physician recruiting can be a challenge for healthcare groups, but outpatient settings might have an advantage when it comes to bringing on spine surgeons.

The increasing movement of procedures to ASCs settings, biologics and new technologies are three trends that orthopedic surgeons are keeping up with.

Spine surgery robots have the advantage of assisting physicians with procedure planning and increased precision and can bolster patient recovery.

Private equity is a huge influence in many sectors of the healthcare industry, and orthopedics are no exception.