2025 YEAR IN REVIEW:
Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics

We’re proud to be at the forefront of advancing musculoskeletal care through innovation and research. In 2025, we continued to harness the power of AI to improve outcomes while perfecting leading-edge surgical techniques that set new standards in the field.
Check out some of our most impactful stories from the past year. These activities and insights showcase our unwavering commitment to exceptional care and improving the lives of our patients.

 CLINICAL UPDATES AND ADVANCES

Case Report: Tourniquet-Less Ankle Replacement for Severe Deformity and Arthritis
Anish Kadakia, MD, performs a complex ankle replacement surgery on a patient with severe ankle arthritis and deformity due to chronic instability and ligament erosion. 
Practical Uses of AI in Musculoskeletal Care
​Alpesh A. Patel, MD, FACS, joins The Upper Hand podcast to discuss the practical applications of AI in orthopaedics and spine surgery, including its use for preoperative planning, patient education and documentation, and its impact on physician workload and patient interaction. 
AI-Enabled Personalized Spine Implants for Complex Patient Case
​Alpesh A. Patel, MD, FACS, demonstrates the use of patient-specific spine implants to treat a 71-year-old patient with severe lower back osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis and spinal deformity. 
Case Report: Innovative Bilateral Hip Abductor Tendon Repair With Gluteus Maximus Transfer
​A recent case report from Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics presents one of the first documented instances of bilateral hip abductor tendon repair with gluteus maximus transfer in a patient with native hips. 

RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

Utilizing Machine Learning to Predict Failed Back Surgery Syndrome Risk After Lumbar Spine Surgery
​In a recent study published in Spine, Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics researchers — including Alpesh A. Patel, MD, FACS, Srikanth N. Divi, MD, and Wellington Hsu, MD — built a predictive model for failed back surgery syndrome using machine learning techniques. 
New Method for Bone Regeneration Could Revolutionize Orthopaedic Implants
​Northwestern Medicine scientists have pioneered a new method to enhance bone regeneration therapies, as detailed in a study published in Nature Communications.
Impact of New York's Opioid Prescription Restriction on Post-surgical Pain Management
A recent retrospective observational study led by Caroline P. Thirukumaran, MD, published in JAMA Network Open examined how New York’s 2016 opioid prescribing restriction affected opioid prescribing for older adults undergoing total joint replacements. ​
Novel Imaging Approach May Improve Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries
Northwestern Medicine investigators have developed a new imaging approach to more accurately assess blood flow in the spinal cord. This method could be used to better inform treatment for neurological diseases and injuries, as described in a recent study published in Scientific Reports

DEPARTMENT NEWs

New Spine Surgeon Joins Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics
We welcome Matthew W. Colman, MD, to the department. In this Q&A, Dr. Colman, a nationally recognized spine surgeon, shares his vision for advancing orthopaedic care at Northwestern Medicine.
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Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics at AAOS, AOFAS, CSRS 
​Our Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics faculty were proud to participate in leading conferences in 2025 where they shared their latest research and insights that are shaping the future of musculoskeletal care.

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