The popularity of value-based payment models has risen in recent years among physicians and patients — though not unanimously. The divide has caused certain specialties to embrace the care model more willingly than others, prompting the question: What does the growing emphasis on value in healthcare mean for spine surgeons?

Worldwide, orthopedic and spine surgeons are focused on expanding their portfolios headed into 2024, with many focused specifically on new, minimally invasive techniques. 

Spine surgeon Peter McCunniff, MD, took the leap from working as a hospital employee to a private practice, and he says the move has been beneficial. 

Amit Momaya, MD, is an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon and is the head of the sports medicine division at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's department of orthopedic surgery. He recently shared with Becker's his thoughts on important current and future trends in orthopedics and healthcare.

Spine surgery is expected to evolve with more outpatient cases and growing technologies, Tan Chen, MD, told Becker's. 

Moving transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions to the ASC was one of the proudest accomplishments for Amy Wickman, MD, of Alta Orthopaedics in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Spine surgery, like all other specialties, carries risks for both patients and physicians. However, physician-patient communication is crucial to limiting risk.

Jason Snibbe, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with Snibbe Orthopedics in Los Angeles. He opened this specialty hospital just this year. Below he shares insight on his thoughts on the current trends of healthcare as well as where it's heading.

Ali Anissipour, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Western Washington Medical Group in Everett, recently joined Becker's to discuss his achievements in the last year and trends and advancements in spine surgery worth monitoring.

Endoscopic spine surgery continues to gain traction, but that could bring challenges with payers, according to Saqib Hasan, MD, of Walnut Creek, Calif.-based Golden State Orthopedics and Spine.

Barrett Woods, MD, a spine surgeon at Rothman Orthopaedics in Philadelphia, said he strives to "improve the quality of life of my patients through conservative care and surgical intervention for those who require it," according to his LinkedIn profile. 

Pushing spine technology forward is one of the highlights of the year for Michael Venezia, DO.

As spine navigation and robotics grow, some surgeons are concerned about newer generations becoming over-reliant on the technology. At the same time, some experienced surgeons are thinking about the key robotics skills they should add to their practices.

Although what qualifies as complex spine surgery will stay the same, how it's performed will change in the near future, according to Vladimir Sinkov, MD.

Zoher Ghogawala, MD, president of the North American Spine Society, is looking at the year ahead as an opportunity to unite specialties amid increased economic headwinds and CMS challenges.

Spine surgery has evolved dramatically in recent decades as new technology and techniques have made some procedures more minimally invasive, efficient and quicker to recover from. In some cases, surgeries that once required a lengthy hospital stay can now be done in a few hours at most, with patients going home the same day.

In a recent meta-analysis of the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion published in the International Journal of Spine Surgery, the lateral transiliac (LTI) approach utilized by the iFuse Implant System® demonstrated the most clinically meaningful and durable results.1

Spine and orthopedic experts in October spoke with Becker's about topics from healthcare disruptors to staff retention.

Economic challenges, evolving technology and surgical outcomes are some of the many stressors surgeons face during their careers.

Christopher Meyer, MD, is optimistic about the future of Edina, Minn.-based Twin Cities Orthopedics. Recently named president of the practice, he's strategizing about ways the group can grow in the coming year.