Autonomous Surgery Just Crossed a Line and the Entire Surgical Robotics Market Feels It
This year’s AAOS Annual Meeting brought thousands of orthopedic surgeons, researchers, and industry leaders to New Orleans! The energy of the city definitely showed up at the conference. During the day, the convention center was buzzing with new research, and interactive sessions. At night, conversations spilled out into the French Quarter over jazz, seafood, and the occasional beignet.
And there was a lot to talk about.
A big takeaway from AAOS 2026 was just how quickly orthopedics is leaning into digital technology, biologics, and more personalized care. AI-powered diagnostics, handheld robotics, and new biologic implants were everywhere. At the same time, there were real conversations about the practical side of the field—things like shifting more procedures to Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) and figuring out how practices can adapt as reimbursement rates continue to decline.
Tech Everywhere -From AI to Handheld Robotics
Walking through the exhibit hall this year, it felt like every booth had some kind of new digital tool or surgical platform.
Robotics continues to be a major focus. Smith+Nephew showcased the CORI Surgical System, a handheld robotic platform that helps surgeons with joint replacement procedures while keeping a lot of flexibility in the operating room. Meanwhile, Novarad demonstrated augmented reality surgical navigation, showing how AR can overlay imaging directly onto the surgical field.
Artificial intelligence was another big topic. Surgeons and companies alike were talking about how AI could help with everything from imaging interpretation to patient communication and surgical planning. It’s still early in a lot of cases, but the momentum is clearly there.
Biologics and Soft Tissue Innovation
Another area getting a lot of attention this year was biologics and soft tissue repair.
For example, Smith+Nephew highlighted new solutions for rotator cuff repair, including the Tendon Seam Repair System and the REGENETEN Bioinductive Implant. These approaches focus on helping the body heal biologically instead of relying solely on traditional mechanical repair.
For surgeons dealing with stubborn rotator cuff failures, these kinds of technologies could be a big step forward.
Research That Could Change How We Treat OA
AAOS is always a big stage for new research, and one of the more interesting highlights this year came from Dr. Kelsey H. Collins, who won the NEXT Award.
Her research looked at how fat-derived factors may contribute to osteoarthritis and joint damage, which could open the door to new treatments that target the disease earlier and more effectively.
Elsewhere, physicians from Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) shared work on targeted medication strategies in joint replacement, exploring ways to improve outcomes through more personalized approaches to medication.
Researchers from Duke Orthopaedics were also heavily involved throughout the meeting, presenting work around improving access to care and building high-value, patient-centered treatment models.
Startup Innovation: The OrthoPitch Winner
One of the most fun parts of AAOS each year is the OrthoPitch startup competition, where new companies get a chance to showcase their technology.
This year’s winner was MY01, which took the top spot with its Continuous Perfusion Sensing Technology (CPST) platform. The device monitors tissue perfusion in real time to help clinicians detect compartment syndrome earlier and more objectively, something that could make a huge difference in preventing severe complications.
The Business Side of Orthopedics
Beyond the tech and research, there were also plenty of conversations about where orthopedic practice is heading.
One major theme was the continued move toward Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), with more procedures safely shifting to outpatient settings thanks to improvements in surgical techniques and anesthesia.
At the same time, many sessions addressed the financial realities facing the field. Inflation-adjusted reimbursements in orthopedics have dropped roughly 30% over time, which is pushing practices to find new ways to stay efficient while still delivering high-quality care.
A Week of Learning, Innovation, and Connection
Between the scientific sessions, hands-on demos, and more than 600 educational presentations, AAOS 2026 delivered plenty for attendees to take back to their practices.
But like most AAOS meetings, some of the most valuable moments happened outside the lecture halls—running into colleagues in the exhibit hall, catching up over dinner in the French Quarter, or continuing conversations after a long day of sessions.
That mix of cutting-edge science and community is part of what keeps AAOS such a cornerstone event for orthopedics.
And this year, the Big Easy was the perfect place to host it.
