From findings about GLP-1s to spine surgery costs, Becker’s reported on nine key studies in spine and orthopedics since Feb. 13.
1. A study of cervical disc replacements in The Spine Journal found that hospital size, geographic region, and specific patient demographics have significant influence on costs.
2. Patients using GLP-1 medications after joint replacement procedures to lose significant amounts of weight have a much lower risk of requiring revision surgeries, according to a study in JAMA Network Open. The study found that the five-year risk of requiring revision was 5.6% among patients who maintained a stable weight or weight gain, versus 4.4% among those with small to moderate weight loss and 3.7% among those with large weight loss.
3. Semaglutide use in patients with Type 2 diabetes was associated with reduced postoperative complications after 90 days, according to a study in The Spine Journal.
4. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion can be done in the outpatient setting, but reimbursements vary between ASCs and hospital outpatient departments, according to a study in The Spine Journal. ACDFs at the ASC were associated with a 9.8% higher immediate procedure reimbursement, 17.2% higher patient out-of-pocket expenditures and 11.7% higher surgeon reimbursement compared to the HOPD.
5. Orthopedic surgeon compensation, when adjusted for inflation, declined 38% from 2000 to 2020, according to a study published in The Journal of Arthroplasty.
6. While more women have pursued careers in medicine over the last 20 to 30 years, representation in orthopedics is still lagging, according to a new study presented at the 2025 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The number of practicing orthopedic surgeons in the data set averaged 23,682 annually across the six-year period. The mean percentage of female orthopedic surgeons across all states was 6.02% in 2018 and demonstrated subsequent annual increases up to 7.51% in 2023, according to the study.
7. A preclinical study from New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery found that earlier anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction can lead to lower immune cell activity, less inflammation and fewer joint changes associated with knee osteoarthritis.
8. Total hip arthroplasty patients have rated healthcare descriptions written by ChatGPT as more accurate and believable than descriptions written by orthopedic surgeons, according to a study presented at the 2025 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting.9. While commercial insurers often use prior authorization as a way to control costs, it does the opposite for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, according to a study presented at the 2025 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
