As 2025 wraps, our recognition of 20 years of ODT comes to a close. This year also marks another anniversary—my tenth year with Rodman Media, serving as editor-in-chief of this publication as well as MPO. With this in mind, I thought it an appropriate time to look back on how the industry has changed since I started my term and where we might be headed.

For those who don’t know, MPO and ODT were not my introduction to the medtech industry. In fact, I had been focused on this community for more than 16 years as lead editor of another publication that’s since faded from the marketplace. However, my concentration was never as dedicated to orthopedic technologies as it has been since I’ve been with ODT. 

One of my first few Editor’s Letters in 2016 shared the experience of my trip to the AAOS annual meeting. The exposure I had to implants, instruments, and innovation at that event would offer an excellent foundation for the next 10 years. 

One appointment marked my introduction to Conformis (since acquired by restor3D). More importantly, it offered a vision of patient-specific implants—the orthopedic version of personalized healthcare. While the AAOS meeting this year presented numerous organizations offering custom implants (most facilitated through an additive manufacturing process), 10 years ago, Conformis provided a fairly unique offering. It was exciting to see the introduction of such a concept to an industry where standardized implants were the only option for surgeons and their patients. 

Looking ahead, personalized implants will eventually overtake their more common, standardized offerings. As the expense and fabrication time for additive manufacturing continue to decrease, the advantages of the more commonplace implant will fade. 

Another memorable aspect of that first visit to the AAOS annual meeting was an introduction to biologics. Admittedly, this was an area of the orthopedic segment with which I was not familiar. However, Anthony Bihl, then CEO of Bioventus, took time away from the show to provide me with an unbelievable education on what biologics were and how they were used. It was a tutorial I still remember and have been appreciative of ever since. 

I was amazed by just how many vendors were promoting biologics at the time. In my mind, orthopedics translated to metal replacing or repairing bone. In fact, after attending the NASS annual meeting later that year, I predicted the spinal fusion sector would be substantially different in just 10 years due primarily to the use of biologics. While that hasn’t quite materialized as I would have hoped, given products that have since been released and innovations in development, we’re headed in that direction. Might we see spinal cages that dissolve away and be replaced by bone, restoring more natural fit and function? I’m not nearly as quick to put a timeline on it, but we’re moving in that possible direction. Personalized implants coupled with biologics should pave the way for orthopedics to seek more natural-based solutions for patients. 

The aspects of the industry I didn’t foresee or speak of in that early Editor’s Letter involved the digitalization of healthcare. Specifically, I never envisioned the influx of data-driven, “smart” technologies helping to guide surgeons during procedures. Orthopedics was often considered an artform, rather than viewed as based in science. That’s shifted dramatically in the last 10 years. Surgeons gain insights through the use of precise measurements obtained from electronic devices and robotic-assisted systems. Artificial intelligence (AI) wasn’t even mentioned in that first AAOS trip and few predicted just how much of an impact it would have on orthopedics or the healthcare industry at large. 

Looking ahead, the use of AI will only continue to become more commonplace. Just as the developments before it, it will continue to mature as it further integrates with surgeons. In turn, as the healthcare professionals become more comfortable with it, they will demand new features from orthopedic device manufacturers, leading to the next wave of innovation. Perhaps AI will help deliver us to that more natural-based style of care. 

Restoring any part of the body to its more natural state as part of a healing regimen should be our ultimate goal. Whether that will happen in my lifetime remains to be seen. However, based on the last 10 years, I think we’re heading in the right direction, and I look forward to the next 10 to see where all of you take us. 

Where do you see the industry headed in the next 10 years? Is a goal of restoring natural bone and tissue realistic? Will it ever be possible? Share your thoughts with me.

Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief

sfenske@rodmanmedia.com