What’s next in connected surgery

Surgery is unique within healthcare’s push into digitization. With more than 310 million¹ patients undergoing major surgery globally every year, the operating room is rich in mission-critical, lifesaving data. But much of that data is hard to access — so much so, in fact, that the operating room has been called a black box. What an incredible problem statement.  

Done right, surgical software can capture and leverage critical information that is, at present, unavailable to those who need it most. Technology can thus make surgery more adaptive, connected, and human, transforming the outlook for human health.  

With more than a century of experience, J&J recognizes that transforming the surgical experience starts with listening to the experts. In 2024 and 2025, we undertook a global survey of clinicians and administrators to assess the current state of surgical software, its potential to improve surgery, and approaches to accelerate what’s next.*