Understanding Orthopedic Surgery Data on DocTransparency

Understanding Orthopedic Surgery Data on DocTransparency

What Orthopedic Surgeons Do

Orthopedic surgeons treat conditions of the musculoskeletal system — bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Subspecialties include joint replacement (hip and knee), spine surgery, sports medicine, hand surgery, and trauma. Many orthopedic surgeons subspecialize heavily and perform a narrow range of procedures at high volume.

Common Orthopedic Procedures in Medicare Data

  • Total knee replacement — One of the most common elective surgeries in the US; high Medicare volume
  • Total hip replacement — Similar volume and demographics to knee replacement
  • Spine surgery — Laminectomy, spinal fusion, and disc procedures
  • Arthroscopy — Minimally invasive joint surgery (knee, shoulder, hip)
  • Fracture repair — Hardware placement for hip, wrist, and other fractures
  • Rotator cuff repair — Common shoulder procedure

Volume-Outcome Relationships

Orthopedic surgery has some of the strongest documented volume-outcome relationships in medicine. For total joint replacement specifically, surgeons and hospitals that perform higher volumes of procedures are consistently associated with lower complication rates, lower readmission rates, and better patient-reported outcomes. When evaluating a surgeon for an elective joint replacement, annual procedure volume is one of the most meaningful data points available.

A surgeon performing 200+ total knee replacements per year has meaningfully more hands-on experience than one performing 20.

Device Company Payments

Orthopedic surgery has the highest average industry payment levels of any surgical specialty. Implant manufacturers — companies that make hip and knee replacement components, spine hardware, and bone cement — pay surgeons royalties for implant designs they contributed to, consulting fees for product development, and speaking fees. These relationships are common and legal, but they are worth understanding when a surgeon recommends a specific implant.

Questions to Ask Your Orthopedic Surgeon

  • How many of this procedure do you perform per year?
  • Do you have a financial relationship with the implant manufacturer whose device you're recommending?
  • What is your personal complication and revision rate?
Data Disclaimer — Data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Open Payments program, Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data, and Provider Enrollment & Certification data (PECOS). Published under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Data may contain errors as reported to CMS by providers and reporting entities. Payments from industry are legal and do not indicate wrongdoing. Medicare data reflects only patients aged 65+ or those with qualifying disabilities. For corrections, contact CMS directly. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a healthcare provider. Procedure descriptions use plain language and do not reference CPT® codes, which are copyrighted by the American Medical Association. Full methodology → · Report a data error → · Privacy policy →