A decade from now, one defining aspect of orthopedic surgery in 2024 will have been the speed at which new techniques are adopted, Neal ElAttrache, MD, said.

In September 1974, Frank Jobe, MD, performed the first Tommy John surgery, which is now one of the most common procedures among baseball players. And in 2024, one of Dr. Jobe's students, Neal ElAttrache, MD, is looking ahead to the procedure's next evolutions.

Orthopedic and spine practices are up against several payer challenges in 2024, from CMS pay cuts to the decision to keep or sever ties with Medicare patients. 

Private equity is under scrutiny after several federal agencies launched an inquiry into its role in healthcare.

Healthcare workers and consumers should pay closer attention to which entities are overseeing the landscape in light of the recent Change Healthcare cyberattack, says spine surgeon Brian Gantwerker, MD.

Spine and orthopedic experts in February shared insights on topics from value-based care to consolidation.

Bundled payments can be used as an alternative to fee-for-service in spine surgery. Some spine surgeons believe in their potential for patient access, while others are more cautious about the arrangement.

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.