Today is one of the most dynamic times in the history of orthopaedics to be a total joint arthroplasty (TJA) surgeon

Today is one of the most dynamic times in the history of orthopaedics to be a total joint arthroplasty (TJA) surgeon.

The clinical success of total joint arthroplasty has accelerated patient demand for these procedures over the last two decades. Some projections forecast an increase in total knee arthroplasty by 139% by 2040 and 469% by 2060 ^[1]. These total knee projections are topped by total hip projections of 176% by 2040 and 659% by 2060. The demand has created predictable consequences and relationships.

1. The demand has inevitably drawn the attention of the industries necessary to supply critical technology required along the spectrum of TJA care.
2. The demand has caught the attention of the payors who foot the bills.
3. The demand has required an increase in the number of surgeons who perform the procedure.

All of this demand has fueled a host of economic changes and downward pressure on health systems regarding alternative payment models and sites of services (removal of TJA from inpatient only) which has only been accelerated by COVID. And we are just getting started.

In the center of all of this evolution remains the patient and their TJA surgeon.

The surgeon is still held responsible and trusted by the patient to navigate a personalized path through all of the previously mentioned challenges towards the best outcomes including the use of industry technology. TJA implant associated technologies including computer assisted, navigational, and robotics are one of the myriad of industry options holding the potential towards improved patient outcomes. Without question these technologies improve implant alignment and placement. However, I strongly believe to reach their full potential they will need to be married with other preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative technologies and metrics. A sound evaluation of these options includes their cost, intraoperative flexibility (options and agnosticism), ability to collect data (to combine with other technologies and for documentation purposes), and the amount of real estate they require in the operating room. With TJA surgeries moving to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) the size of the technology, portability, and cost (margins are tighter at ASCs) will become increasingly important. I predict in the next 5-10 years “smart” tools like the THINK Surgical TMINI “robot” will supplant the physically larger technologies in certain spaces.

I am excited to be a TJA surgeon in these times and I think a proper stewardship with industry technologies has tremendous possibilities for surgeons and institutions that utilize them. Just as critical is how companies in the MedTech space find efficiencies for each other which lowers costs and improves care for my patients.

THINK Surgical TMINI Robotic Solution

Thomas Myers, MD, MPT, fAAOS

Associate Professor
University of Rochester
Department of Orthopaedics
Division of Adult Reconstruction

Why does an implant-agnostic approach to robot knee surgery make sense now?

In an editorial recently published in The Journal of Orthopaedic Experience and Innovation, Stuart Simpson, CEO of THINK Surgical seeks to explain the recent history of robotic joint replacement and explore the business model and strategy being pursued by the “Big Ortho” companies.

This article offers a perspective on the benefits of an implant agnostic approach to orthopedic robotics.

Since writing this article, THINK Surgical has announced a partnership with ZimmerBiomet which means that THINK Surgical now offers an exclusive version of their TMINI hand-held robot with Zimmer, while continuing to offer an implant agnostic version of TMINI supporting all their other implant partners.

THINK Surgical are excited to participate in the Academic Orthopedic Consortium symposium in Nashville and Stuart looks forward to continuing the conversation from 2023 about how industry might better partner with AOC members.

Stuart Simpson

President & Chief Executive Officer
THINK Surgical