Current trends and advancements in spine surgery

In this focused issue of Annals of Translational Medicine, world-renowned leaders, academics, and physicians contribute their expertise and knowledge regarding the latest cutting-edge developments in the field of spine surgery. Trends discussed in this issue include the various ways in which the changing financial aspects and models of spine surgery are affecting the care delivered to patients. For instance, increasing physician ownership and equity in hospitals may empower physicians who aim to optimize efficiency and save healthcare costs. Additionally, the ownership of ambulatory surgery centers by spine surgeons may also enable improved optimization of patient care and the surgical workflow. The transition from the fee-for-service financial reimbursement model to the newer bundled payments model is also becoming more widely implemented in healthcare systems