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!

SmartTRAK outlines consequences COVID-19 is expected to have on the European Trauma & Extremities Market

Twenty-five years of orthopedic business planning has taught me to monitor certain non-business factors when setting goals. Trends in weather patterns, age demographics, lifestyle and activities can have a direct influence on market growth. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the European market with the shutdown of various countries and the ensuing changes in lifestyle such as reduced travel, work and sporting activities. In 2020, SmartTRAK predicted the European Trauma market fell by around 25% with extremities at nearly -50% in the midst of COVID-19 lockdowns. Similar market pressures are also expected during 2021.

Despite market challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was a game-changing year for enabling technology for orthopedic surgery with robotics hitting an inflection point in acceptance, with record placements in Q420, and enabling technology across the entire continuum of care making significant inroads.

In Q420, MAKO* robot demand drove much of the 12.3% growth in Stryker’s* US Ortho Other segment. In 2020, MAKO’s installed base grew by 33%, and in Q420 hit a milestone of > 100 system installations at major teaching institutions, ASCs and in competitive accounts in the quarter. In fact, according to the Company, MAKO is now available in ~50% of fellowship programs at teaching institutions in US, as well as some in Europe, which will help the transition to standard of care. Stryker noted that new market entrants (Zimmer Biomet’s* ROSA*, Smith & Nephew’s* CORI* and DePuy Synthes’* VELYS*) have not slowed MAKO momentum.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q420/FY20 CAS Ortho Market Recap* are: