Expanding and modernizing training programs, as well as engaging potential surgeons earlier in their education are crucial to improving the spine and orthopedic surgeon pipeline.
The number of orthopedic surgeons has steadily declined over the past few years. In 2021, there were 16,260 orthopedic surgeons in the U.S., but that number dropped to 14,100 in 2025, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This is not just a problem for the present day. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, orthopedic surgery is facing a 12% shortage by 2038…