Top orthopedic surgery and sports injury trends 2025

Across the country in 2025, more patients are turning to outpatient orthopedic surgery centers for procedures that previously required hospital stays.¹ From total joint replacements to lumbar spinal fusions to tendon and ligament repairs—many surgeries that previously required hospital admissions can now be done as outpatient procedures. A variety of trends have been driving demand for same-day orthopedic procedures in the United States.  Advances in robotics and other technologies² have made complex procedures easier to perform, and many patients are choosing ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) over hospitals with an eye toward cost-effectiveness and convenience.

Trending procedures in orthopedics and ASCs: 2025

While the orthopedic offerings provided by any individual practice will depend on factors like patient demographics, data from a number of sources show that some outpatient procedures are far more common in the US than others. 

Here's a closer look at seven procedures that continue to lead the pack. 

1. Arthrocentesis/aspiration and joint injections 

According to one analysis, procedures on major joints or bursa are performed more often than any other orthopedic surgery today.³ Intended to reduce inflammation, collect fluid for diagnosis, or deliver targeted therapy, these minimally invasive treatments have been a mainstay of musculoskeletal care for years. 

Likewise, joint aspirations can be used to prepare affected areas for therapeutic injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid for patients with arthritis and similar conditions. With arthritis diagnoses expected to increase over the coming years in lockstep with the aging population⁴, practices should prepare for a steady volume of these procedures for the foreseeable future. 

2. Total joint replacements 

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) have similar popularity in total joint procedures. These two surgeries aren't nearly as common as joint aspirations or injections, but together they account for about 10 percent of all orthopedic procedures.⁵ 

While these procedures previously required inpatient stays, total hip and total knee replacements are increasingly shifting to outpatient settings thanks to improved anesthesia, advances in robotics, and enhanced recovery protocols. Further illustrating this trend, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) moved Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) off its inpatient-only list in 2020 and added it to the ASC Covered Procedures List.⁶ In 2021, Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) also made the ASC-CPL, which meant outpatient practices serving Medicare patients could be reimbursed for both procedures by CMS. 

Today, growth in the TKA and THA arena shows no sign of slowing. One study, for instance, predicted that providers will need to double their total joint arthroplasty caseload by 2050 in order to meet demand.⁷  Another study notes that as the population ages and total hip and total knee replacements become more and more common, “the door is opening for more orthopedic procedures to exit the inpatient only setting in favor of the ambulatory setting." 

3. Knee and shoulder arthroscopy 

For patients with knee and shoulder conditions that don't require total joint replacements, arthroscopy is often the treatment of choice. Accounting for roughly 5 percent of all orthopedic surgeries, procedures in this category span everything from rotator cuff repairs to chondroplasties and meniscectomies.⁸ 

While rates of knee arthroscopies have declined in recent years as studies indicate that those with osteoarthritis may not benefit from the treatment⁹, the procedure is still commonly performed on younger patients with traumatic meniscal tears. Arthroscopy's appeal for patients lies primarily in its efficiency and low complication rates. The minimally invasive process typically takes less than an hour, and recovery time is relatively short compared to that following open surgery making these procedures well suited to the workflows of the typical ASC. And with the incidence of sports injuries increasing, especially in the younger population¹⁰, it's likely that demand for arthroscopic surgery will continue to climb as well. 

4. Anterior cruciate ligament repair

Sports participation is also driving an increase in anterior cruciate ligament injuries. This is especially the case for female athletes, who — due to anatomical and biomechanical factors — suffer ACL injuries at a significantly higher rate than men.¹¹ 

Similarly, a growing number of adults are experiencing ACL tears from recreational activities like skiing, soccer, and pickleball. The latest advances in ACL reconstruction allow this procedure to be performed in an ASC setting, offering patients with these types of injuries a more affordable and faster path to recovery.¹² 

5. Spine procedures 

Minimally invasive spine interventions — like endoscopic discectomy, lumbar epidural steroid injections, and spinal cord stimulator implantation — were among the top orthopedic procedures performed by practices in a recent survey of ASCs. In fact, noted in a February 2025 article in Outpatient Surgery Magazine, spine surgery is “the next big growth area for outpatient facilities looking to expand their service lines. 

Designed to help manage conditions like chronic back and neck pain, such procedures have moved out of hospital operating rooms and into the outpatient space in keeping with the larger trend of controlling rising healthcare costs.¹³ Minimally invasive spine procedures can also be fast, safe, and effective — all big wins for patients who need them. 

6. Tendon sheath procedures 

One recent analysis put tendon sheath incisions just behind knee and shoulder arthroscopy on a list of the most common orthopedic surgeries. Commonly used for conditions like trigger finger, where tendon inflammation restricts movement, these procedures are relatively simple and highly effective and are typically completed in outpatient settings in 30 minutes or less.¹⁴ 

Given the aging population, and the fact that repetitive stress injuries are more common among older adults, tendon repairs are quickly becoming a staple of many orthopedic practices. 

7. Achilles tendon repairs 

Anyone who watched Jayson Tatum rupture his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the NBA's 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals knows how devastating this injury can be. The plus side for the basketball star or for anyone in a similar situation? Achilles repairs are now routine and can often be performed in an outpatient setting. 

While Achilles tendon ruptures usually occur among younger athletes (and especially men) in particular, they're increasingly being seen in middle-aged persons who participate in fast-moving recreational sports.¹⁵

By staying agile, investing in the right technology, and aligning clinical strategy with patient demand, forward-looking practices can ensure they take the lead as the orthopedic industry continues to evolve

How outpatient practices can prepare for 2026 and beyond 

By staying agile, investing in the right technology, and aligning clinical strategy with patient demand, forward-looking practices can ensure they take the lead as the orthopedic industry continues to evolve. athenaOne® for orthopedics can help practices do just that.

As an AI-native software, athenaOne connects hospital environments and your outpatient practice. Our foundational Advanced Intelligence Layer continuously ingests clinical data from thousands of providers connected on the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) nationwide network, and builds financial insights from the clinicians of the 170+K clinicians athenaNet.¹⁶ That means orthopedic practices can benefit from a system that can aggregate and structure updated patient data from disparate sources while also incorporating learnings from claim submissions and payer updates.

Utilizing athenaOne’s fully integrated electronic health record (EHR), revenue cycle and practice management, and patient engagement software that provides smart, timely automation can offer orthopedic practices the chance to scale by facilitating care coordination and freeing up time for clinicians to meet patient demand. Learn more about athenaOne for orthopedics and how our solutions can help fuel your growth.