Despite an ongoing slowdown in elective procedures due to COVID, enabling technology continued to experience strong demand in orthopedics in Q121. Since the vast majority of patients who put off elective procedures due to the pandemic are expected to come back into the funnel, SmartTRAK anticipates that robotic and other technologies will continue to gain traction well into next year and beyond.

As the COVID-19 workplace restrictions ease up, the MedTech industry continues to progress with product innovation and plans for the future. In July, AOSSM and AANA are partnering for a combined annual meeting, the first in-person meeting for both since the start of the pandemic. SmartTRAK reports daily on the challenges still ahead, covering all aspects of the Sports Medicine market.

The following is just a small sampling of recent Sports Medicine related updates from around the world compiled, reviewed and posted in real time by our SmartTRAK analysts. We constantly monitor the worldwide MedTech industry, sifting through the noise to present to our subscribers the most relevant international news, patents, trends, new products, financial data and competitor developments in the global Life Sciences industry.

Patents:

• Zimmer Biomet* 

  Biomet Sports Medicine (ZBH) was issued US Patent “Method and apparatus for forming a self-locking adjustable loop”, describing methods and apparatus for forming a self-locking adjustable loop. 11,039,826

• Cannabinoid for Sports Med Applications
  Precision Biologic’s US Patent Application “METHODS OF USING CANNABINOID COMPOSITIONS IN SPORTS MEDICINE APPLICATIONS” was published. 20210128521

• Stryker*

  Stryker (Ivy Sports Medicine LLC) was issued US Patent “System and method for all-inside suture fixation for implant attachment and soft tissue repair”, describing an all-inside soft tissue repair device. 10,932,769

Inclement weather, strong product performances and the impact of M&A all help to drive another quarter of healthy growth for the Trauma Market.

The Trauma Market experienced the third sequential quarter of increasingly healthy growth as both the WW and US Trauma Markets were up YoY. New product introductions, along with inclement weather in the US and EU drove trauma procedures during the first quarter of 2021.

During the Stryker Q121 earnings call, management noted that their trauma business, which is less elective in nature, benefited from inclement weather in the US and Europe in February. 

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

The first quarter of 2021 sees a resurgence of procedures and new product introductions as M&A activity abounds signaling that the Extremities Market is back on track.

Inclement weather, the return of elective procedures and new product introductions all contributed to growth in the WW Extremities Market, up +5.1% in Q121 and the US market seeing even higher growth. M&A activity continues to impact the Extremities segment as companies expand their portfolios and work to synergize product development and commercial efforts.

In Q420 and into Q121, COVID-19 cases ramped up in the US, impacting US Knee replacement procedures. Several large implant manufacturers reported seeing hip procedures being prioritized over knee replacement cases given their more elective nature. However, revision knee replacements are not always able to be postponed. Craig Della Valle, MD of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in Chicago discusses the effects of COVID-19 on revision knee procedures and the changes to care pathways precipitated by the pandemic.

To listen to the interview, recorded live via Zoom, click on the following video. A link to the transcript of the interview is also provided below.

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 the comprehensive Q121 Soft Tissue Fixation Market Recap* are:

It's time to get out there again and re-connect, and SmartTRAK is excited to be attending ISASS21, the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery's 21st annual conference, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in South Beach Miami, May 13-15.

SmartTRAK will be represented by Julianne Burns, General Manager, Spine. Please contact us if you would like a meeting.

Click to read some recent SmartTRAKanalysis articles by Julianne that were featured on the blog:

• Top Trends in Spine in 2021: A Market in Motion
• Spine's Next Big Biomaterial: DiFusion Technologies’ ZFUZE

We are excited to announce the addition of the full market view of Orthopedic Pediatrics (US) to the SmartTRAK platform, featuring 3 modules covering Pediatric Trauma, Pediatric Extremities and Pediatric Spine!

Coverage includes:

• Pediatric Trauma:
  • Pelvis
  • Femur
  • Proximal Tibia
    Technologies covered include Guided Growth Plates, Anatomic Plates, IM Nails (including Elastic Nails), Deformity Correction and more!

• Pediatric Extremities
  
  • Upper Extremities Fixation
  • Foot and Ankle Fixation
    Technologies featured include Cannulated Screws, Clavicle Plates, Wrist Fusion Plates, External Fixation and more!

• Pediatric Spine:
  • Adolescent idiopathic Scoliosis
  • Early Onset Scoliosis
  • Neuromuscular Scoliosis
    Technologies included feature Growing Rods, Fusion Technologies, Vertebral Body Tethering, ApiFix and more!