From economics to the ASC shift, SmartTRAK looks at the trends affecting the Total Joints Market

The start of the new year did not play out as so many of us had hoped. Heading into 2022, the next COVID surge reared its ugly head with the Omicron variant storming through countries around the globe. Healthcare facilities once again postponed elective procedures due to capacity issues and/or staff or patients being diagnosed with COVID. Overall inflation rose to a level that hasn’t been seen since the early 1980s. Looking ahead, is there a silver lining in this dark cloud? SmartTRAK believes the forecast is not all doom and gloom. Let’s look at some of the trends affecting the climate of the Total Joints market.

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Dr. Mark Figgie, Hospital for Special Surgery, and Nick Deeter, Founder & CEO WishBone Medical discuss their journey to develop a pediatric-specific hip replacement system in an interview with SmartTRAK

Dr. Mark P. Figgie, Chief of Surgical Arthritis Service at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City, and Nick Deeter, Founder and CEO of WishBone Medical discuss their collaboration on the development of the first off-the-shelf hip replacement system for pediatric patients in an interview with   SmartTRAK. Dr. Figgie shares how his 30-year experience with complex joint replacements, many in juvenile patients, led to his collaboration with WishBone medical to create a hip system specifically tailored for pediatric and young adult patients.

To find out more, including the indications for a pediatric hip replacement, the global market implications, and the next steps Dr. Figgie and WishBone will be taking to bring this hip system to the market, click on the video below to listen to the recorded interview (17:53 min). A link to download the complete transcript of the interview is also provided below.

New products and signs of procedural recovery lighten the mood at AAOS 2022

The mood at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) 2022 Annual Meeting was upbeat despite scaled-back attendance and exhibit space. Surgeons and exhibitors alike were excited to get back to in-person discussions about issues in orthopedics, new products hitting the market and the potential for recovery from the impact of COVID. While at the meeting, SmartTRAK met with industry professionals from clinicians to company representatives identifying key takeaways from market drivers and limiters to new product introductions.

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Covid-19 Delta surges shatter dreams of strong Q321 market recovery

Surges in COVID-19 Delta cases shattered any dreams of a strong Q321 Total Joints market recovery. Postponement of elective procedures in various areas of the US again negatively impacted Companies pushing out hopes for a return to normal into 2022. In addition to procedure recovery challenges, China’s Volume-Based Procurement program that aims to reduce implant pricing may headwind to the WW Total Joints market in the coming year.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q321 Total Joints Market Recap* are:

• Complete Q321 Total Joints Market Overview and Highlights
• SmartTRAK's Expert Analysis and Insights
• Total Joints News including Revenues, Data, Charts and Shares
• US Market Growth Comparison Q321 vs Q319
• New Products Hitting the Stage
• Q321 Regulatory Highlights 

What seems to be on everyone’s mind – COVID-19 recovery and ASC trends

The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the attendance at the 2021 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeon (AAOS) annual meeting to an estimated 1/5 ^th of its usual number. Many international surgeons found themselves under travel restrictions while some US surgeons were asked by their institutions to forego the meeting. The pandemic also impacted the conversations taking place on the convention floor with two topics seeming to be top of mind – the recovery from COVID-19 and the ongoing move of joint replacement procedures to the outpatient setting.

At AAOS 2021, SmartTRAK spoke with clinicians and industry executives to obtain their view regarding the pandemic and recovery from COVID-19. Although speculation varied depending on individual circumstances,  some companies and healthcare institutions shared that supply chain issues are holding back the increase in business while others are facing regional shutdowns of elective procedures due to the surge of the Delta variant.

Philip Procter, CEO of GPBio & Co-founder of Biomimetic Innovations, shares the OsStic journey of discovery and its path to commercialization in an interview with SmartTRAK

Philip Procter started on a quest several decades ago to solve trauma hardware failure in patients through the development of an adhesive solution. The journey began in earnest after a UK meeting with craniomaxillofacial surgeons facing difficult problems they felt could only be solved with an adhesive technology in combination with implants. Procter was convinced early on that the adhesive solution would have to come from nature studying everything from gecko-based technology to sticky frogs in Australia to Mytilus edulis (common mussel) food protein. But it was after demonstrating the potential of a prototype glue in Sweden in 2014 that his journey led him to become a faculty member of the University of Uppsala, Sweden, and he and his partner Dr Gerard Insley working together with Professor Håkan Engqvist and a team of students developed the technology that is known today as OsStic^: a technology with the potential to join implant to bone, bone to bone, soft tissue to bone, and soft tissue to soft tissue.

GPBio and PBC Biomed, both Irish-based companies, joined forces in 2020 to develop and commercialize the OsStic bone adhesive technology through the formation of a new company, Biomimetic Innovations Ltd. Company CEO Philip Procter shared more about the OsStic technology, how it came about and next steps for bringing the product to market in an interview with SmartTRAK’s Lisa Mahan. To find out more about the Company and its operation, click on the following video to listen to the interview, recorded via Uberconference. (17:49 min) A link to download a complete transcript of the interview is also provided below.

At AAOS 2021, outgoing President Joseph Bosco III, MD, shares the positive changes in orthopedics accelerated by COVID-19 from the move of procedures to ASCs to increased use of technology

Joseph Bosco III, MD, vice-chair of clinical affairs for NYU Langone Orthopedics and outgoing president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) presided over the Academy during a transformative time accelerated by COVID-19. Dr. Bosco began his presidency in March 2020 just as the pandemic shut down many areas of the US impacting the healthcare system and orthopedic procedures. As Dr. Bosco prepared to turn over the reins at AAOS 2021, he spoke with SmartTRAK about his experience during the year and how the pandemic and technology are creating opportunities and accelerating trends that will change the practice of orthopedics for years to come.

To find out more, click on the following video. A link to download a complete transcript of the interview is also available below.

SmartTRAK: Lisa Mahan here with Smart Track. Today, I have the honor to be talking to Dr. Joseph Bosco, III, outgoing president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Dr. Bosco, thank you for talking to me today.

Dr. Joseph Bosco: Well, thank you for having me.

Ending your term as president of AAOS must be a bit bittersweet. You've served during a challenging time with the disruption from COVID. How was it navigating through the pandemic?

Q221 brought mixed reviews for Total Joints as Hips exceed pre-COVID levels and Knees fall flat

The Total Joints market accelerated sequentially with a return of patients and procedural volume growth in the quarter. However, compared to 2019, results varied by segment, The Hip Replacement segment put in the best performance with the US Hip Market in Q221 compared to pre-COVID’s Q219 levels. US Knees did not experience the same level of success as revenues were down.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q221 Total Joints Market Recap* are:

• Complete Q221 Total Joints Market Overview and Highlights
• SmartTRAK's Expert Analysis and Insights
• Total Joints News including Revenues, Data, Charts and Shares
• US Market Growth Comparison Q221 vs Q219
• Acquisitions, Deals & Financing News
• New Products Hitting the Stage
• Q221 Regulatory Highlights 

Declining COVID cases, M&A and new products fueled the race to recovery in the Extremities Market

As COVID cases declined in Q221 and patient confidence increased, the Extremities Market was off to the races with a rev-up in deal-making and new product launches. Elective procedure volumes started to make a comeback but were not pedal to the metal and still lagged pre-COVID levels. However, new product launches helped fuel growth in the quarter with the US Extremities Market +43.9% YoY, an increase of +8.2% compared to Q219, reflecting change over pre-COVID market conditions. 

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q221 Extremities Market Recap* are:

Designing-Surgeon Dr. Arnold-Peter Weiss Discusses New WristMotion System Design, Outcomes and Implications

A new total wrist arthroplasty system, WristMotion*, is being introduced to the US market through Anika's*’ subsidiary, Arthrosurface*. WristMotion’s design is intended to address concerns of carpal loosening by incorporating a dual curvature design feature in the carpal side combined with a dorsal flange to allow for greater range of motion. In July, Anika announced* the first surgery utilizing the WristMotion Total Wrist Arthroplasty System was performed by designing-surgeon Arnold-Peter C. Weiss, MD, at University Orthopedics, RI.

To find out more, SmartTRAK interviewed Dr. Weiss about his early experience with the WristMotion total wrist and its implications for patients suffering from chronic wrist pain. To listen to the interview, recorded via Zoom, click on the following video (15:58 min). A link to download a transcript of the complete interview is also provided below.