SmartTRAK Life Sciences News and Analysis Blog

Andy Knapik

Sr. Analyst, Soft Tissue & Arthroscopic Technologies - 20 years’ experience in US and International sales and marketing for the orthopedics and sports medicine markets, including 12 years at Smith & Nephew.

Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Highlights at AAOS 2023

By Andy Knapik on 5/2/23 9:30 AM

AAOS looked to be near business as usual in Las Vegas as Sports Medicine surgeons strive to achieve pre-COVD normalcy in 2023

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) 2023 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas finally felt like the Academy meetings before COVID knocked the wind out of the industry over the last couple of years, and SmartTRAK was there. The meeting was well attended, the exhibitor floor was bustling with traffic steadily throughout the entire meeting and the talks were all well attended. After the last few years of uncertainty and low attendance, it was good to see a robust and engaging Academy meeting once again. While some of the larger companies may have scaled down their booth space at AAOS, there were plenty of new, smaller and mid-tier companies that stepped up their presence to take advantage of the rejuvenated crowd. So what was the buzz at the meeting?

In this article, SmartTRAK highlights the key takeaways from AAOS for companies competing in the Sports Medicine Market, including:

The Growing Interest in Biologic-Driven Soft Tissue Fixation
- It was clear at AAOS that there is a growing interest among sports medicine companies and physicians in the use of biologic-driven soft tissue fixation. Since Smith+Nephew set the stage for ...
Small and Mid-Size Players That Aim to Take Share
- A number of smaller US and OUS-based soft tissue fixation companies were on display at AAOS showing that the market for soft tissue fixation is a popular one where new competitors see growth potential. Companies such as ...
The New Companies Helping to Drive Innovation in Arthroscopic Video Technology
- Arthroscopic video technology was front and center at AAOS 2023 from wireless cameras, disposable cameras and scopes to needle scope technology. While the big boys were showcasing their video technology as always, other companies, including ...

To read the complete "Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Highlights at AAOS 2023" article by Andy Knapik, SmartTRAK's Senior Analyst, Soft Tissue Fixation and Arthroscopic Enabling Technologies, click the button below.

2 min read

Rough Waters: Q422 Arthroscopic Technologies Market Recap

By Andy Knapik on 4/10/23 10:40 AM

Rough Waters for the Arthroscopic Technologies Market in Q4

While some of the significant headwinds caused by COVID-19 are in the rearview mirror, the Arthroscopic Technologies Market was still hampered in the fourth quarter, with worldwide revenues up +2.8% over Q421.

Q422 saw a continued rise in procedure volumes globally which provided growth for the AT Disposables Market, which tends to trend with case volumes. On the capital side of the AT market, capital orders remained strong for items such as arthroscopic camera systems with new equipment purchases as well as an increasing need for replacement capital driving demand. However, supply chain and sterilization issues continue to hinder overall sales growth in both the consumable and capital sides of the Arthroscopic Technologies market.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q422 Arthroscopic Technologies Market Recap* are:

Topics: Arthroscopic Technologies

2 min read

Current Trends in Sports Medicine

By Andy Knapik on 2/2/23 10:20 AM

Dr. Scott Sigman, founder and chief medical officer of OrthoLazer Orthopedic Laser Centers and host of the Ortho Show podcast, discusses current trends in arthroscopic sports medicine and orthopedic care in an in-depth interview with SmartTRAK.

In an interview with SmartTRAK, Scott Sigman, MD discusses many trends in arthroscopic technologies and soft tissue fixation including advancements in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair with the BEAR Implant, graft selection in ACL reconstruction, the Stryker InSpace Balloon for massive rotator cuff tears, advancements in Latarjet, needle arthroscopy and more. Dr. Sigman is the chief medical officer and founder of OrthoLazer Orthopedic Laser Centers and the host of the Ortho Show podcast.

To find out more about Dr. Sigman’s insights on sports medicine and arthroscopy, click on the following video to watch Andy Knapik, SmartTRAK's Sr. Analyst, Soft Tissue Fixation and Arthroscopic Enabling Technologies, interview Dr. Sigman (49:55 min). A complete transcript of the interview is available here. For more details, interview topics by timecode are provided below.

Topics: Orthopedics Arthroscopic Technologies Sports Medicine

2 min read

Headwinds Persist: Q322 Arthroscopic Technologies Market Recap

By Andy Knapik on 1/20/23 11:01 AM

Headwinds persist for the Arthroscopic Technologies Market in Q322

With most of the major headwinds caused by COVID-19 in the rear-view mirror, the Arthroscopic Technologies (AT) Market showed growth in the third quarter with WW Arthroscopic Technologies revenues up +4.2% over Q321. The quarter saw a continued rise in procedural volumes globally that resulted in growth for the AT disposables market which trends with case volumes. On the capital side of the AT Market, capital spending and demand remained strong for items such as arthroscopic camera systems with new equipment purchases as well as an increasing need for replacement capital driving demand.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q322 Arthroscopic Technologies Market Recap* are:

Topics: Arthroscopic Technologies

1 min read

Trends & Advancements in Sports Medicine & Arthroscopy: SmartTRAK at OSET 2022

By Andy Knapik on 10/17/22 9:30 AM

SmartTRAK highlights new products and company strategies for penetrating the ASC market at OSET 2022

The Orthopedic Summit Meeting (OSET) found itself in a new location and time this year as meeting organizers moved a long-time December meeting in Vegas to fall in Boston at the Encore Hotel and Casino. The overall mood of the meeting was positive and seemingly well attended, however, it seems that the change of venue and time of year may have negatively affected overall attendance versus past years.

All the regular players from a company perspective were in attendance, some showcasing new products and others looking to demonstrate procedural prowess as everyone looks to strengthen their foothold on the hot ambulatory surgery center (ASC) market.

New Product Introductions: Biologics-Backed Fixation Takes Center Stage

Topics: Orthopedics Top Story Soft Tissue Fixation

2 min read

Soft Tissue Fixation Rebounds: Q122 Market Recap

By Andy Knapik on 6/22/22 11:10 AM

Soft Tissue Fixation Rebounds in Q122

After a slow end to 2021, Soft Tissue Fixation bounced back with procedure volumes rebounding in the first quarter of 2022. With 2021 being a year of ups and downs due to the COVID pandemic, staffing shortages and supply chain issues, the start of 2022 looked to be no different. However, even though the quarter started off a bit sluggish, it picked up steam quickly and ended on a positive note with worldwide Soft Tissue Fixation revenues up +7.5% over Q121.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q122 Soft Tissue Fixation Market Recap* are:

Topics: Orthopedics Orthobiologics Soft Tissue Fixation

2 min read

Taking a Hit: Q421/FY21 Soft TIssue Fixation Market Recap

By Andy Knapik on 3/25/22 9:28 AM

Soft Tissue Fixation Takes A Hit In Q421

After two quarters of significant growth, Soft Tissue Fixation took a hit in Q421, with another spike in COVID cases negatively affecting procedure volumes. 2021 was a year full of ups and downs due mainly to the COVID pandemic and Q4 was no different. COVID once again brought a new wave of cases, with the Omicron variant taking its toll on Soft Tissue Fixation case volumes resulting in modest YoY revenue declines over 2020.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q421 Soft Tissue Fixation Market Recap* are:

Topics: Orthopedics Arthroscopic Technologies Soft Tissue Fixation

2 min read

Picking Up Steam: Soft Tissue Fixation Market Recap

By Andy Knapik on 10/4/21 10:34 AM

Soft Tissue Fixation Continues to Pick Up Steam in Q2 2021

With the world trying to move past the negative impacts of COVID-19, the Soft Tissue Fixation market continued to make significant advancements in the second quarter of 2021. The quarter saw a continued rise in case volumes for elective sports medicine procedures worldwide driven primarily through market recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q221 Soft Tissue Fixation Market Recap* are:

Topics: Orthopedics Soft Tissue Fixation

2 min read

Picking Up Speed: Q121 Arthroscopic Technologies Market Recap

By Andy Knapik on 6/4/21 11:22 AM

Arthroscopic Technologies starts to pick up speed in 2021

While the COVID pandemic was still slowing parts of the overall medical device market, the Arthroscopic Technologies market was able to start to pull ahead as case volumes for Arthroscopic Sports Medicine procedures started to climb back towards pre-COVID levels.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q121 Arthroscopics Technologies Market Recap * are:

Topics: Orthopedics

2 min read

Light at the End of the Tunnel: Q121 Soft Tissue Fixation Market Recap

By Andy Knapik on 5/24/21 12:00 PM

COVID roadblocks persist, but the path may be clearing for Soft Tissue Fixation

While COVID was still causing roadblocks for the overall medical device market, Soft Tissue Fixation was able to see some light at the end of the tunnel as case volumes for Orthopedic Sports Medicine procedures started to climb back towards pre-COVID levels.

Q1 Soft Tissue Fixation saw positive revenue growth across all segments over the previous year, especially towards the end of the quarter where case volumes started to pick back up compared to the same period last year, when case volumes plummeted due to the start of the COVID pandemic.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q121 Soft Tissue Fixation Market Recap* are:

Topics: Orthopedics