From first-in-the-nation procedures to new technology debuts, here are 19 milestones in spine and orthopedic surgery, as reported by Becker’s since July 1.
Editor’s note: This list is not exhaustive.
- Zane Uhland, DO, an orthopedic surgeon and ASC owner in Oklahoma City, completed the first clinical cases with OrthAlign’s Lantern ASC system, performing six total knee procedures in an outpatient setting in under four hours.
- Sarasota (Fla.) Memorial Hospital hosted the first U.S. surgery using Signus USA’s VertaConnect spinal implant system, performed July 3 by spinal surgeon Ngoc-Lam Nguyen, MD.
- MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., became the first hospital in the U.S. to complete 500 spine procedures with the Cirq robotic arm.
- An Arizona orthopedic surgeon performed the state’s first augmented reality shoulder replacement.
- An Illinois hospital debuted an AI-powered brain and spine surgery platform.
- Stryker debuted a handheld robotic platform for knee replacements.
- Biotronik Neuro debuted an AI capability for spinal cord stimulation patients.
- A 3D-printed pedicle screw posted its first clinical results.
- Hafiz Kassam, MD, performed the first Rose shoulder surgery in California.
- Surgeons at Atrium Health debuted the Pulmera 3D imaging platform.
- Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center in Akron, Ohio, became the first in Northeast Ohio to offer rotator cuff-sparing shoulder replacement, with Salvatore Frangiamore, MD, performing the region’s first two procedures Oct. 1.
- icotec’s CMORE CT spine implant system earned a CMS New Technology Add-On Payment, effective Oct. 1.
- Saluda Medical made its Cap24 surgical paddle lead commercially available across the U.S., giving surgeons who implant paddle leads access to closed-loop spinal cord stimulation.
- Centinel Spine received FDA approval for two-level use of its prodisc C Nova cervical disc, giving the company three cervical disc replacement devices cleared for both one- and two-level procedures.
- Robert Eastlack, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon, performed the first surgery using Spine Innovation’s Logic Titanium Implant System on Oct. 14 at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla, Calif.
- Globus Medical introduced Script, an FDA-cleared patient-specific spinal implant platform, and the XLIF Prone Procedural Solution at the North American Spine Society meeting in San Antonio.
- Medtronic’s Stealth Axis surgical system landed on Time’s Best Inventions of 2026 list.
- MRI2CT received FDA 510(k) clearance for NextMR, an AI platform that creates 3D bone visualization of the lumbar spine and sacrum from a standard diagnostic MRI.
- Surgeons at hospitals in California and Virginia completed the first commercial procedures using Providence Medical Technology’s FDA-cleared 3D-printed posterior cervical fusion implant.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
