Once a cutting-edge concept, GPS Shoulder has now evolved through over a decade of clinical use. This technology has experienced exponential growth and adoption, rapid global expansion and surgeon engagement, which has reshaped the orthopedic landscape. A peer-reviewed article that has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery highlights just how fast momentum is building.
According to the research, annual case volumes have increased by nearly 1,400% from the launch of GPS Shoulder in 2017 to 2023, indicating a substantial rise in navigated shoulder procedures.1 Improved accessibility of the technology with no capital cost associated with GPS since 2019 has been a catalyst for this adoption. s the research says this trend may be attributed to the user-friendly technology and short learning curve with navigation, which has been shown previously. These features have helped enable surgeons to deliver precision and accuracy across a wide range of shoulder indications.2-3
Jake Deister, MD, of Topeka, Kansas, who recently became the first surgeon to reach nearly 1,500 GPS procedures, is among the technology’s leading users. His milestone reflects not only his own personal achievement, but also the broader trend of high-volume adoption among surgeons nationwide.
...it also allowed me to take on more complex shoulder cases with confidence, because now I could see what I couldn’t see before...
“I was initially attracted to GPS simply because I could reproduce a plan intra-operatively with unmatched accuracy,” he said. “What I found was that in addition, it also allowed me to take on more complex shoulder cases with confidence, because now I could see what I couldn’t see before. And I always get the question about whether it adds time to my cases. The fact is, I find that it’s a faster procedure with GPS. The reason is that it removes the guesswork. So, the bottom line is it’s more accurate, it grew my practice by being able to add more complex cases and it’s a faster procedure. What’s not to love?”
International markets are also embracing GPS technology, with countries like Australia and Japan consistently achieving over 75% adoption of their shoulder cases being navigated. With strong growth domestically and internationally, GPS is rapidly becoming the new standard of care for shoulder surgery.
GPS is the first and only navigation system designed for shoulder, knee, and now ankle surgery—and it serves as the cornerstone of the Active Intelligence® ecosystem, delivering accessible, cost-effective solutions that are designed to improve patient outcomes.
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Reference:
- Xu J et al. Utilization Trends of the ExactechGPS® Computer-Assisted Navigation System in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. JSES. Accepted Jan. 2025.
- Greene A. et al. Navigated vs. non-navigated results of a CT based computer assisted shoulder arthroplasty system in 30 cadavers. Presented at ISTA 2018.
- Nashikkar P., et al. Role of intraoperative navigation in the fixation of the glenoid component in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: a clinical case-control study. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2019Sept.;28(9):1685-1691.