You know, the world of orthopedics in 2025, it
isn't just about fixing bones anymore, is it?
Not at all. It feels like it's exploding with
cutting edge technology, really transforming
how care is delivered right now. It certainly
is a very exciting time. Welcome to the deep
dive. You sent us well. Quite a stack of sources,
the latest articles, press releases, expert insights,
all buzzing with the newest innovations in orthopedic
care. Our mission today is to guide you through
this material to unpack the most important bits
of knowledge you need to know about what's happening
this year. Sounds good. And joining me to navigate
these, frankly, quite exciting trends is our
expert guide for this deep dive, Professor Mo
Imam. Thank you. It's a real pleasure to explore
such a dynamic field with you. It's moving so
quickly. Absolutely. So looking across these
sources... A few major themes just jump out immediately,
don't they? They really do. We're seeing the,
well, the pervasive influence of AI, genuinely
revolutionary surgical technologies, smarter
implants built with advanced materials, and a
huge shift towards patient -centered care, even
outpatient care. Quite a list. It's a lot. But
let's jump right in, shall we? See what these
sources tell us. Let's do it. OK, the first thing
that's just impossible to miss is AI. It feels
like it's everywhere. But our sources highlight
some specific, really powerful applications in
orthopedics. They seem to go way beyond simple
image analysis or diagnosis. What's really grabbing
you here? Well, I think what really stands out
is how AI is integrating into quite fundamental
processes. Take surgical planning, for instance.
OK. Historically, getting a detailed 3D anatomical
model for complex surgeries needed high radiation
CT scans, maybe MRI, and the manual work to segment
those images. That could take days, sometimes
weeks. Right, a real bottleneck. Exactly. But
these sources show AI -driven tools can now generate
these detailed 3D models, and increasingly from
standard x -rays. Hold on, from x -rays? That
sounds like a huge shift, doesn't it? It is.
Think about it. Less radiation, less cost. potentially
much more accessible. That's one of those real
sort of nuggets from this material, I think.
This single advancement dramatically lowers the
barriers to sophisticated planning. It gives
surgeons access to critical insights much faster.
It potentially turns a process that took weeks
into, well, just a few clicks. And it helps ensure
consistent quality, opens up advanced planning
to many more cases. Okay, so beyond just planning
the shapes, what else is AI doing? Well, it's
proving crucial in predictive modeling, too.
Imagine you're designing an implant. AI can analyze
vast data sets to predict its performance under
various stresses. Or it could anticipate how
different surgical techniques might fare in specific
patient anatomies. So trying to foresee problems.
Precisely. And you see companies like Quest Diagnostics
collaborating with Google Cloud, using generative
AI specifically to streamline data. personalized
parts of the customer experience. It shows how
AI touches everything, really, from the lab right
through to the clinic. And it's even transforming
training. There's mention of redefined surgery,
for example. They have an AI -powered immersive
3D training platform. So better simulations.
It's more than just simulation. It allows large
-scale training delivered by top experts, but
in very realistic scenarios. Think about the
bottleneck in surgical training through traditional
fellowships. Right. It's very limited, one -on
-one, often. Exactly. This platform offers the
potential to scale expertise much more rapidly,
training thousands simultaneously. That potential
scale for training is, well, it's quite astonishing.
So pulling this together then for, you know,
the patient or the surgeon, what's the practical
benefit of all this AI integration? What does
it really mean? Day to day. For the surgeon.
It's about enhanced precision, definitely, but
also remarkable efficiency. Reducing complex
planning to minutes, that saves incredibly valuable
time. For the patient, it points towards better
outcomes. Because the planning is more precise,
it's potentially more personalized based on insights
from enormous data sets. And as you pointed out,
in some cases, it means reducing radiation exposure,
shifting from CT or MRI to x -rays for that 3D
modeling. Right. So fundamentally, it's enabling
better, faster and potentially safer planning.
Better decision making before the first decision
is even made. OK, let's move then from the planning
stage into the operating theater itself. Once
the surgeon is scrubbed in. What sort of advanced
technology is guiding their hands, or maybe giving
them a better view? Right. This is where robotic
assistance and advanced visualization are really
making significant impacts. Robotics, yeah. That
feels like it's been growing for a while. It
has, and it continues its rapid expansion. The
market for orthopedic surgical robots. I mean,
the projection is something like $16 billion
by 2030. That gives you an idea of how mainstream
this is becoming. Huge numbers. But are the robots
doing the surgery? No, no. It's important to
be clear. These systems aren't replacing the
surgeon. They're augmenting them. OK, augmenting.
They enhance precision. They help reduce variability.
Maybe consistency is a better word. Yeah, especially
in complex procedures like total knee replacements
hip surgery spinal fusions Robots help with incredibly
precise implant alignment for example, and they
facilitate minimally invasive approaches Which
of course is a key driver for faster patient
recovery, right? We see established systems like
Zimmer biomets our rosé hip system being used
quite routinely now in procedures like direct
anterior total hip replacement Okay, so the robots
help with the doing What about the seeing? How
are surgeons getting better eyes inside the body
during the procedure? Ah, that's another really
fascinating area. Surgical navigation is moving
beyond just traditional screens placed somewhere
in the OR. OK. Augmented reality, even holographic
navigation. They're really emerging now. Novorod's
Vizar system is a great example mentioned in
the sources. It's essentially a surgical GPS.
A GPS for surgery. Kind of. It projects anatomical
imaging, could be 2D images, could be 3D holograms
directly onto the patient's body right in the
surgeon's field of view. Wow. OK. So they're
seeing the plan overlayed on the actual patient.
Exactly. And it provides incredibly accurate
guidance, apparently down to the millimeter.
And we're seeing FDA clearances now for these
AR and AI guidance platforms, companies like
Medivis, Pixi Medical, Proprio. They're even
getting clearance for use in US ambulatory surgery
centers. which suggests they're becoming more
practical, more accessible. Precisely. It speaks
to their increasing practicality. And it's not
just AR, advanced 3D optical scanners, like those
from Visi, which used to be advanced scanners.
They're providing detailed intraoperative imaging
and software analysis too. So real -time information.
Real -time actionable intelligence right there
during complex procedures. It really sounds like
these technologies are taking complex surgeries
and... I don't know, by adding these layers of
precision and real -time data visualization,
they're making them potentially simpler to execute,
safer for the patient. That's a great way to
put it, I think. It's about providing sophisticated
tools that enhance the surgeon's own innate skill
and judgment, making the incredibly challenging
slightly more manageable, perhaps, and certainly
more consistent. Like giving surgeons a new set
of finely tuned senses. Yes, exactly. OK, let's
shift gears slightly then. We've talked about
the planning tools, the tools for surgical execution.
What about what actually stays inside the body,
the implants themselves? What's new and impactful
in materials and functionality this year? Right.
implant innovation. Well, it feels like it's
undergoing a bit of a renaissance. One key trend
is the increased use of biodegradable materials.
Think magnesium alloys or bio -resorbable screws
and plates. Things that dissolve. Essentially,
yes. The market for these is projected to grow
significantly, potentially over $16 billion by
2035, according to one source. And the benefit?
The real benefit is they're designed to safely
dissolve within the body over time. So for patients,
maybe particularly in trauma cases or pediatric
cases where bones heal and hardware might otherwise
need removing later. Ah, avoiding a second surgery.
Exactly. Avoiding a second operation altogether.
That's a significant win for the patient, obviously.
Less risk, less cost, less recovery time. Definitely.
What else is happening with materials? Another
critical area is fighting infection. Antimicrobial
coatings are being developed for implants. We
see companies like Onco Surgical or Zimmer Biomet's
Persona Solution, PPS Femur mentioned. Because
infection is still a big risk. It remains a persistent,
serious risk in implant surgery, yes. So materials
engineered to actively combat that risk are vital.
We're also seeing composite polymers, ceramics,
being engineered not just for strength, but to
actively encourage bone growth. To improve osseointegration
to integration. That's the bone bonding with
the implant. That's the crucial process Yes,
where your natural bone tissue grows onto and
bonds with the implant surface for stability
Getting that right is key to long -term success.
Okay materials getting smarter And then there
are smart implants that always sounds a bit science
fiction, but they're very real now aren't that
what do they actually do? They're very real,
yes. And quite remarkable. Smart implants basically
have tiny sensors embedded within them. Okay.
After surgery, they collect real -time objective
data right from inside the patient's body. What
kind of data? We're talking about medical grade
data. Things like range of motion, how the implant
is aligning, weight bearing, even step count,
or early indicators of how the healing is progressing.
Right. Data you couldn't get otherwise. Exactly.
And this data can be transmitted wirelessly to
the surgeon or the clinical team. Zimmer Biomed's
Persona IQ Smart Knee Implant is probably the
most prominent example right now. It provides
really valuable insights into how the patient
is actually recovering once they're outside the
clinic walls. So instead of just asking the patient,
you know, how are you feeling at a follow -up
appointment weeks later, the surgeon has objective
data on their recovery journey from day one.
Precisely. This data -driven approach is fundamentally
changing post -operative care. Well, it allows
clinicians to monitor recovery remotely. They
can potentially intervene earlier if issues arise.
And they can tailor the rehabilitation plan much
more effectively to the individual patient. There
are companies, like Inkwell Health mentioned
in the sources, specifically focused on providing
clinicians with this kind of real -time data
to truly optimize that recovery process. It moves
follow -up care from being periodic snapshots
to something much closer to continuous monitoring.
That connectivity and data, it brings us nicely
to the final major trend we're seeing across
these sources, personalization and making patient
care much more patient -centric. How do all these
technologies tie Well, the demand for solutions
tailored to the individual is definitely a major
driving force. Right. And this starts with things
like patient -specific implants and custom surgical
guides, using detailed imaging, often enhanced
by AI analysis, as we discussed and produced
with advanced manufacturing techniques like 3D
printing. Companies like Restore Third are mentioned
as focusing on this. Surgeons can get implants
and tools designed precisely for a patient's
unique anatomy. So a better fit. The aim is absolutely
a better fit. better function, and ultimately
better longevity for the implant. It's a direct
link back to the AI and the advanced imaging
we talked about earlier. Makes sense. And this
drive for personalization also extends to where
care is delivered. There's a really significant
trend towards more outpatient surgeries, often
performed in Amulatory Surgery Centers, or ASCs.
Right. And why is that shift happening now, particularly?
It's several factors coming together, really.
Improved surgical techniques, certainly. less
invasive approaches, which are enabled by the
robotics and navigation we mentioned, better
pain management, shorter acting anesthetics,
they all contribute. But crucially, changes from
bodies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, CMS, in the US are adding more orthopedic
procedures to the list that are covered in ASCs.
That makes it more financially viable. Ah, the
payment structures are catching up. Exactly.
And for patients, this often means potentially
shorter hospital stays or no overnight stay at
all, recovering in the comfort of their own home
faster and often lower costs compared to a traditional
hospital setting. That sounds like a win -win.
In many cases, it can be. And alongside that
shift in location, digital health solutions are
improving access and streamlining the patient
journey. Well, the Hurt app is an interesting
example mentioned. It offers free 247 virtual
access to orthopedic expertise by partnering
with physician groups. So quick advice anytime.
It helps patients get quick advice outside standard
clinic hours, yes. And it potentially alleviates
some pressure on busy clinics. Partnerships,
like the one mentioned between hurt and relation,
are focused on improving this kind of access
and the user experience. Other digital platforms
are helping practices manage patient engagement,
data analytics, operational efficiency, smoothing
the whole process. And we probably shouldn't
forget regenerative medicine, things like PRP,
stem cell injections. These offer non -surgical
personalized options for certain conditions,
which meets that growing patient demand for less
invasive alternatives where they're appropriate.
It's fascinating, actually, how all these threads
seem to connect. You've got AI refining. the
planning and enabling personalized implants,
then advanced surgical tech allowing for less
invasive approaches, which enables the shift
to outpatient care. Exactly. And then the smart
implants providing the data for that personalized
remote recovery monitoring. Absolutely. When
you look across all these trends, the AI, robotics,
AR, smart implants, personalized approaches,
the shift outpatient care, they really do all
seem to converge on the same goals. Which are?
Increasing precision, accelerating recovery times,
improving outcomes, and ultimately making orthopedic
care significantly more patient -centered in
2025. It really is an incredibly exciting time
in the field. And if you found this deep dive
valuable, perhaps consider rating the show or
sharing it with a colleague who might also find
it insightful. As we wrap up, though, these rapid
technological leaps are clearly reshaping the
landscape. But it does leave us with a compelling
question, doesn't it? Perhaps one for you, the
listener, to consider. As AI takes over more
planning tasks, robots enhance execution, and
smart implants provide this constant stream of
data, how does the fundamental role of the human
expert, the surgeon, the clinician actually change?
That's the key question, isn't it? And on a larger
scale, how will our health care systems truly
adapt to integrate and manage all this new technology,
the vast amount of data it generates, while still
navigating the ethical considerations that inevitably
come with such powerful tools? Indeed. The technology
is a powerful enabler, there's no doubt. But
human judgment, empathy, expertise, they remain
absolutely critical in actually delivering care.
Technology is a tool, not the whole answer. A
lot to think about as these innovations continue
to unfold. Thank you so much for joining us for
this deep dive into the cutting edge of orthopedic
innovation in 2025. My pleasure. Thank you.