Minimally invasive and robotic surgery may see a surge of popularity throughout 2024.
John Shin, MD, orthopedic spinal surgeon at RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group in West Orange, N.J., connected with Becker's to answer, "How would you like the orthopedic industry to evolve in 2024?"
Note: This response has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Dr. John Shin: In 2024, we'll see the orthopedic industry increasingly favor minimally invasive spinal surgery procedures and techniques over more conventional surgeries. More doctors will be trained in new procedures like unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar spinal surgery (which I performed for the first time in New Jersey). The technique utilizes the same principles, tools, and operating room equipment as traditional spinal surgeries while being ultra minimally invasive. It offers the benefits of faster recovery times, lower risk of infection, less postoperative pain, and shorter lengths of stay for adult patients. In that same vein, robotic/navigation surgery will also become more popular in the coming year as hospitals invest in the surgical equipment that makes these kinds of surgeries possible and available to patients.