Minimally invasive surgery has become a defining force in orthopedics, changing how procedures are performed and where they take place. Advances in arthroscopy, robotics, imaging and pain protocols are enabling surgeons to deliver high-quality outcomes with smaller incisions, less tissue trauma and quicker recoveries.
Here are five ways MIS is reshaping the field:
1. Expanding ASC capabilities: Robotics, endoscopic platforms and better anesthesia protocols are broadening the scope of outpatient orthopedics — and ASCs are relying on MIS to safely take on procedures once considered too complex the setting.
“Technology that holds promise for adding both patient and provider value in ASCs over the next five years is the expansion of procedures being completed with minimally invasive techniques due to invested innovations continuing to evolve robotics,” Tara Good-Young, CEO of Windsor, Calif.-based PDI Surgery Center, told Becker’s.
2. Total joint replacements migrate outpatient: Minimally invasive approaches are transforming joint replacements, with smaller incisions, reduced blood loss and enhanced recovery protocols sending many patients home the same day.
Administrators point to same-day hip, knee, and shoulder replacements as one of the most significant growth areas in orthopedics.
“The big opportunity for growth in the next five years is total joints, more minimally invasive spine surgery and robotics,” Tina Driggers, administrator at Day Surgery Center in Winter Haven, Fla., told Becker’s.
3. Complex spine procedures migrate outpatient: Similarly, outpatient spine surgery is expanding beyond basic cases as minimally invasive techniques advance, with procedures like lumbar decompressions and discectomies being increasingly undertaken in ASCs.
Outpatient spine and orthopedics could grow 8% to 10% annually through 2030, fueled by robotics and AI-enhanced imaging.
“As the population ages, the prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions — from degenerative shoulder issues to herniated discs — will drive demand for innovative, minimally invasive surgical solutions,” Leslie Jebson, regional administrator at Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health, told Becker’s.
4. Cost savings and patient experience advantages: MIS not only improves recovery but also reduces anesthesia time and complication risk, resulting in lower costs and higher satisfaction. These benefits are making MIS a differentiator for ASCs competing for orthopedic volume.
“Providing these procedures in the ASC setting allows for a decreased cost per case,” Lisa Donaldson, director of nursing at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare Fort Worth, told Becker’s.
5. Robotics accelerates adoption: Robotics is expanding past hips and knees, with Stryker and Zimmer Biomet recently adding shoulder features and exploring spine applications. Orthopedic robots are becoming more common in ASCs as providers seek greater precision and reproducibility, and vendors race to expand functionality.
