Orthopedics enters 2026 at a crossroads. Demand is rising, outpatient migration is accelerating and new technologies are reshaping how surgeons diagnose, operate and monitor recovery. Yet the same forces driving progress are also exposing sharp vulnerabilities, from reimbursement cuts and…
Sophie Eydis
Orthopedic care entered a period of rapid transformation in 2025 as reimbursement cuts tightened margins, outpatient migration accelerated and new technologies reshaped surgical practice. From payment pressure to robotics and prevention-focused care models, five forces in particular have defined how…
Portage, Mich.-based Stryker has appointed Spencer Stiles as president and chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1. Mr. Stiles, a 27-year company veteran, will now lead Stryker’s global businesses, strategy and M&A efforts. He most recently served as group president of…
Site-neutral payment is emerging as one of the most consequential Medicare reforms for musculoskeletal care. By equalizing reimbursement across hospital outpatient departments, ASCs and physician offices, policymakers aim to reduce spending, but orthopedic leaders warn the consequences for practice economics,…
As Medicare reimbursement continues to fall while costs rise, orthopedic practices are confronting the most challenging margin environment in more than a decade, one that is influencing consolidation, altering surgeon participation in Medicare and reshaping the future of musculoskeletal care.…
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A physician at Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital in Wichita has completed the state’s first shoulder replacement using Stryker’s Mako SmartRobotics system. Damion Walker, DO, performed the procedure Nov. 6, according to a Dec. 1 news release shared with Becker’s.…
Orthopedics is entering a pivotal period as outpatient migration accelerates, new technologies reshape surgical workflows and musculoskeletal demand surges. Five forces in particular are slated to influence orthopedic care delivery heading into 2026: 1. Single-specialty centers gain momentum: Orthopedic ASCs…
Spine biologics companies are navigating unprecedented commercial pressure and accelerating technological change. As demand for regenerative solutions grows and competition intensifies, leaders are forming strategic partnerships to strengthen distribution channels, advance product pipelines and meet surgeon expectations. The pace of…
Melville, N.Y.-based BioRestorative Therapies has secured a Type B meeting with the FDA to discuss an accelerated approval path for its fast-track-designated BRTX-100 program for chronic lumbar disc disease. The meeting is scheduled for mid-December. In a Nov. 17 news…
New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery received a $10 million gift from Lauren and Robert Steers to advance the HSS Digital Twin Platform, a technology that uses 3D imaging to create virtual replicas of a patient’s anatomy for orthopedic…