Orthopedics continues to evolve rapidly, with new technologies and techniques reshaping patient care. From outpatient arthroplasty to robotics, recent innovations are having a measurable impact on outcomes, eight surgeons told Becker’s.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: Which recent advancement in orthopedics do you think has made the biggest impact on patient outcomes?
Javad Parvizi, MD. Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Acibadem University (Turkey) and Founder and CEO of Parvizi Surgical Innovation (Philadelphia): No invention in orthopedics has had the same impact as highly cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). First developed abroad and later refined for widespread use, XLPE solved the problem of wear and osteolysis in joint replacements. It has virtually eliminated those complications and extended implant longevity by decades.
Anil Ranawat, MD. Orthopedic Surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery and Assistant Professor at Weill Medical College of Cornell University (New York City): Modern computer templating and navigation, with and without robotics and patient-specific instrumentation, have greatly advanced our ability to optimize outcomes.
Prem Ramkumar, MD. Medical Director of Technology and Clinical Innovation and Principal Investigator of the Orthopaedic Intelligence Lab at Commons Clinic (Marina del Rey, Calif.): Modern indications, advanced techniques and safe instrumentation for hip impingement have changed the field. Hip arthroscopy is the only operation in orthopedics that may prevent joint replacement while improving the function of the native joint. This has allowed us to treat a large, previously neglected population of young patients who would otherwise live with pain until needing a hip replacement.
Joshua Rozell, MD. Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn and Associate Professor (New York City): The greatest advancement has been our ability as a care team to prepare patients for surgery and discharge them home safely within 24 hours. Improved pain management, anesthesia and soft-tissue–friendly techniques, paired with increased patient touchpoints, have enabled faster recovery at home with support from both family and the surgical team.
Augustine Saiz, MD. Assistant Professor, UC Davis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (Sacramento, Calif.): In orthopaedic trauma, patients have benefited from advances in fracture mechanobiology and immunology, as well as high-level clinical trial data. Mechanobiology has improved our understanding of the healing environment, while studies like PREP-IT and VANCO have shown how simple changes can reduce infection risk. Recognizing fracture patterns in different populations has also refined patient-centered treatment algorithms.
Jeffrey Stambough, MD. Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (Little Rock, Ark.): Outpatient hip and knee arthroplasty has transformed care. Advances in anesthesia, pain control and recovery protocols allow patients to return home the same day without higher complication risks. This improves mobility, independence and satisfaction, lowers infection risk, and reduces costs — advancing both quality and value.
Dean Wang, MD. Chief of Sports Medicine and Vice Chair of Clinical Research, Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at UC Irvine Health (Orange, Calif.): One of the most impactful advancements has been combining mechanical unloading, biologics and cartilage restoration in a single surgery. This approach preserves native tissue, slows arthritis progression and improves long-term outcomes, especially in younger, active patients.
Brian Waterman, MD. Chief and Fellowship Director of Sports Medicine and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine (Winston-Salem, N.C.): Robotic and augmented reality–assisted surgery are among the most exciting recent advances. These technologies enhance precision, reduce outliers and standardize outcomes. Real-time feedback, intraoperative guidance and patient-specific instrumentation serve as force multipliers in sports medicine and shoulder surgery.
