Orthopedic surgery leaders have been forced to make some difficult decisions amid a tough economic environment and other obstacles facing the healthcare industry. 

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons registry program shared its Shoulder & Elbow Registry (SER) 2024 Annual Report, which includes data compliled from 36,296 submitted patient procedures.

Here are four key developments in spine and orthopedic artificial intelligence since June.

Orthopedic surgery and sports medicine specialists Michael Stuart, MD, and Bradley Kruckeberg, MD, currently serve as team physicians for Minnesota State University athletic teams, but the two used to have athletic careers of their own, according to an Oct. 18 report from The Free Press.

Evan O'Donnell, MD, performed successful shoulder surgery on Masataka Yoshida, a player for the Boston Red Sox.

Ricoh 3D for Healthcare and Insight Surgery are partnering to offer patient-specific guides for pediatric and adult orthopedic surgeries, according to an Oct. 17 news release. 

EmergeOrtho has taken a different approach to orthopedic consolidation, Scott Hannum, MD, of Wilmington, N.C.-based EmergeOrtho Coastal Region, said. 

Orthopedic implant company 4Web Medical has appointed Brad Niemann as President.

Four football stars have undergone orthopedic surgery during or leading up to the 2024-to-2025 NFL season, raising questions about their playability for the ongoing season. 

Fort Myers, Fla.-based Precision Healthcare Specialists added Dennis Sagini, MD, to its medical staff.

As intravenous solutions shortages continue to plague health systems and the U.S. supply chain, here are 12 supply chain updates orthopedic leaders should know: 

Old Bridge, N.J.-based Alliance Orthopedics has added anesthesiologist and pain management expert Shaigan Iqbal, MD, to its team. 

Naples, Fla.-based Catalyst OrthoSciences received FDA 501(k) clearance for its Catalyst Fracture Shoulder System, according to an Oct. 15 news release from the company.

Elkhart-based Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center of Northern Indiana has made the Hurt! orthopedic mobile app free to everyone in Michiana, a region that encompasses Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan, according to an Oct. 15 report from CBS affiliate WSBT. 

Patient experience scores rose across all settings in 2024, from ASCs to medical practices to hospital and emergency departments, according to an Aug. 20 report from Press Ganey. 

Johnson & Johnson, along with its orthopedic company, DePuy Synthes, saw multiple product advancements and growth in the third quarter.

Here are eight professional athletes who saw leading orthopedic surgeons since Sept. 1.

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson has undergone surgery at Dallas-based Baylor White Medical Center to repair a fractured tibia and fibula, according to an Oct. 14 report from NBC Sports.

Here are six major orthopedic mergers to know from 2024: 

Neal ElAttrache, MD, performed shoulder surgery on Gavin Stone, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to an Oct. 12 report by K8 News.