Orthopedics is growing and changing for the better.
Here are three positive developments happening in orthopedics:
Advancements in artificial intelligence
Many surgeons are excited about the recent advancements in artificial intelligence and its impact on orthopedics.
"The biggest trend in orthopedics right now is the arms race that is artificial intelligence," Brian Grawe, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Cincinnati, told Becker's. "This arms race includes better, more efficient delivery of patient care, as well as decreasing the cost burden of medical care. I believe that harnessing the power of AI will allow surgeons to better meet the expectations of their patients, more effectively communicate about the point of care options, and ultimately maximize the workflow of getting patients in the door and out the door. We are at the tip of the iceberg and the ceiling is high."
The shift of surgeries to the outpatient setting
More and more orthopedic procedures are moving out of hospitals and into ASCs, resulting in big wins for patients and payers alike.
"When we talk about that shift towards outpatient procedures, we've seen that trend over the past decade, but we're seeing a significant uptick," Yesh Navalgund, MD, chief medical officer of Rockville, Md.-based National Spine & Pain Centers, told Becker's. "What I feel is the reason for that uptick is advances in the actual medical technology of the devices that we use. We look at the medical technology and the techniques, we see that these newer technologies allow safer and more efficient outpatient surgery, obviously leading to cost savings for both patients and payers."
Minimally invasive surgery developments
Minimally invasive surgery's popularity continues to grow.
"In 2024, we'll see the orthopedic industry increasingly favor minimally invasive spinal surgery procedures and techniques over more conventional surgeries," John Shin, MD, an orthopedic spinal surgeon at RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group in Livingston, N.J., told Becker's. "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."