Despite stronger headwinds from slowing elective procedures, supply chain challenges and unfavorable foreign exchange rates, most total joint companies saw positive growth in Q222.

The WW Total Joints Market grew in Q222 despite slowing sequential growth compared to Q122’s growth. A slowdown in elective procedures late in the quarter along with continued supply chain challenges and the effect of foreign exchange rates resulted in stronger headwinds. SmartTRAK notes that several companies reported the carryover of these headwinds into Q3 that could dampen market recovery through year-end.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q222 Total Joints Market Recap* are:

The return of elective procedure volumes, new product offerings and a busy first quarter of acquisitions all supported healthy growth for the Extremities Market

While growth drivers varied for specific companies in Q122, the return of elective procedure volumes helped drive double-digit growth for several market players. Stryker*, the Extremities Market leader, benefited from the return of elective procedures in the US. Its US Foot & Ankle and Upper Extremities business segments contributed to the Company’s US Trauma & Extremities growth during the quarter. Stryker also noted during its earnings call that ...

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q122 Extremities Market Recap* are:

Procedure volume recovery is not the only trend on SmartTRAK’s radar

Procedure volume recovery continues to be a trend on everyone’s radar from industry execs to healthcare providers. In Q122, the Knee Replacement Market in the US seemed to experience a much stronger recovery than Hips based on YoY growth rates, according to SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard. However, Knees faced a much easier YoY comp as more knee procedures were postponed in Q121 compared to hips due to their more elective nature. Putting this into perspective, US Hip Market growth along with Knees reinforced the feeling that 2022 procedures will be closer to “normal” as the Total Joints Market recovers from the downsizing caused by COVID.  And, as the industry’s bandwidth for focusing on the pandemic decreases, the emphasis on other trends grows.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q122 Total Joints Market Recap* are:

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?