Choice is a tax that we are all paying.

We are the guilty ones.

The orthopedic device industry has collectively conditioned our customers to expect unrestricted access to any instrument or implant they desire for a procedure. While this abundance of options might seem beneficial, it comes with significant, often overlooked downsides—second- and third-order consequences that ripple outward like a hangover from an unchecked binge on choice.

The proliferation of implant options directly inflates both implant and instrument inventories. And who foots the bill? Everyone. Companies see reduced profits, shipping costs climb, SKUs multiply, autoclaving demands surge, operational friction intensifies, and labor burdens grow heavier. And we are burdening our own customers.

But there is hope.

There’s a way to lighten this load. By adopting streamlined implant systems, procedure-specific sterilized kits, and even 3D-printed personalized implants, we can cut this “choice tax” down to size—simplifying processes, reducing waste, and easing the strain on the entire system.