The explosion of AI, leaps in minimally invasive procedures and opioid-free joint arthroplasties are three of the predictions that surgeons have for the orthopedic and spine industries.
These three orthopedic and spine surgeons recently connected with Becker’s to share their bold forecasts for the future of their industries in the next decade.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What is your big prediction for the spine/orthopedic industry in 2035?
David Fabi, MD. Orthopedic surgeon at DISC Surgery Center at Carlsbad (Calif.): History shows that breakthrough technologies take about a decade to achieve mass adoption. By 2035, with augmented reality already making its mark and AI entering the joint replacement space, the future is clear: AI, AR and robotics will converge into one powerful ecosystem, transforming hip and knee replacement into smarter, more precise and increasingly autonomous surgeries.
Jordan Kump, MD. Orthopedic spine surgeon at Orthopedic Centers of Colorado (Denver): By 2035, I believe AI will be deeply integrated into nearly every aspect of spine care. We will have tools that can accurately predict which patients are most likely to benefit from surgery, while also helping us define alignment targets and surgical strategies based on large data sets, relying less on intuition. These systems will continuously track how we perform as surgeons, offering feedback that refines both technique and outcomes in real time. Beyond decision-making, AI will influence how we plan cases, select implants and even anticipate long-term results for individual patients. We are already beginning to see this shift, but by 2035 these tools will be highly refined, used in real time and capable of individualizing and optimizing every aspect of spine care. It is likely that patients will have access to this information, which will inform them and be a major factor in their decision for choosing a spine surgeon.
I also expect that physicians will spend far less time entering data into the electronic medical record. Patient encounters will be automatically recorded, and AI will generate accurate documentation and treatment plans, which will then be reviewed and refined under the supervision of the physician.
At the same time, I believe we will continue to see a paradigm shift toward minimally invasive and endoscopic approaches. Much like how arthroscopy transformed shoulder surgery, spine surgery in 2035 will be performed through smaller corridors with less tissue disruption and faster recoveries, without compromising the durability of decompression or fusion. The combination of AI-guided decision-making and minimally invasive execution will define the next generation of spine surgery. Looking 10 years and beyond, I also anticipate the emergence of numerous predictable biologic options that will allow us to definitively treat and even prevent many degenerative spine conditions.
Madhish Patel, DO. Orthopedic Surgeon at Gardner Orthopedics (Fort Myers, Fla.): The prevalence of opioid-free total joint arthroplasty. The majority of current perioperative analgesia is opioid-sparing. Orthopedic surgeons rank high in terms of opioid prescriptions given the nature of our surgeries coupled with traditional teachings and patient expectations. I think this is where we will see one of the highest impact standard changes.
