Challenges and barriers to improving care of the musculoskeletal patient of the future - a debate article and global perspective

Hence, it functions more as a forum-based rather than a scientific-based presentation. This exposé was designed to stimulate debate about the emerging patients' needs in the future predicted by leading orthopedic surgeons that provide some hint as to the right direction for orthopedic care and outlines the important topics in this area.The authors aim to provide a general overview of orthopedic care in a typical developed country setting. However, the regional diversity of the United States and every other industrialized nation should be considered as a cofactor that may vary to some extent from our vision of improved orthopedic and trauma care of the musculoskeletal patient on an interregional level.In this forum, we will define the current and future barriers in developed countries related to musculoskeletal trauma, total joint arthroplasty, patient safety and injuries related to military conflicts, all problems that will only increase as populations age, become more mobile, and deal with political crisis.It is very likely that the future will bring a more biological approach to fracture care with less invasive surgical procedures, flexible implants, and more rapid rehabilitation methods. This international consortium challenges the trauma and implants community to develop outcome registries that are managed through health care offices and to prepare effectively for the many future challenges that lie in store for those who treat musculoskeletal conditions.By 2020, in developed countries considerable modification in orthopaedic care is expected to have occurred due to changes in population demographics and innovation in operative techniques, treatments, and research. One of the most drastic changes will be due to the aging North American population. It is predicted that, by 2020, 16.3% of the US population and 25% of the Canadian population will be 65 years of age or older [1,2]. Fractures have become a leading cause of patient morbidity and mortality in both indu