From the global pandemic, shifts in site of care and technologies of interest, to the shift of procedures, these are some of the trends to watch in 2021

In 2020, monitoring the effects that COVID-19 had on joint replacement market quickly dominated the collective consciousness. And as we enter 2021, it is sure to remain top of mind but other trends are worth watching as well. From the shift in site-of-care to technologies of interest, SmartTRAK outlines some of the developments in the joint replacement market.

Among the many things to watch for in 2021 that are included in detail in this Market Outlook analysis article, written by Lisa Mahan, SmartTRAK's VP of Orthopedics, are:

• Expect Early Market Stops and Starts, Ups and Downs - After the initial wave of COVID-19 in March 2020, elective surgical procedures returned in Q2 and Q320 along with market recovery. However, a rising wave of COVID cases leading into the new year precipitated another round of shutdowns in different regions across the US ...
  
  

As companies ride the latest wave of COVID-19, SmartTRAK predicts the trends and technologies that will continue to advance the trauma industry in 2021 and 2022.

Trend #1: Procedures Return to Near-Normal Levels in 2021

After the first swell of COVID-19 this past March, elective surgeries took a major hit. As most procedures were postponed during this phase of the pandemic, the trauma segment was impacted to a lesser extent. In early 2020, trauma surgeons reported seeing definite decreases in volumes due to stay-at-home orders, with polytrauma being almost negligible in certain US cities. Geriatric fractures also decreased, but to a lesser extent according to the OTA COVID-19 Webinar discussion. Despite the decrease, surgeons treated the majority of trauma fracture fixation procedures and provided conservative treatment in only a small portion of patients who were in facilities or areas heavily impacted by COVID-19.

We are pleased to announce that Andy Knapik has joined the team at SmartTRAK as Senior Analyst, Soft Tissue Fixation and Arthroscopic Technologies. Andy has 20+ years’ experience in US and International sales and marketing for the orthopedics and sports medicine markets, including 12 years at Smith & Nephew.

Meet Andy Knapik:

What is your role with SmartTRAK? As Senior Analyst for Soft Tissue Fixation and Arthroscopic Technologies, I am currently developing and supporting the Arthroscopic Technologies module, which is new to SmartTRAK, as well as the Sports Medicine Repair module.

What do you like about SmartTRAK? I love the depth and range of experience of all of the analysts. There is a lot of industry knowledge that we can offer customers, and it’s really impressive to me.

What is something special or unique that you bring to SmartTRAK subscribers? I have 20 years of experience in orthopedics working with just about every product that an orthopedist would use from sports medicine and arthroscopy, to trauma and reconstruction. I have also worked in diverse geographies, working in both the US market and internationally in both established as well as emerging markets. So even though my current specialty lies in sports medicine and arthroscopy, there is quite a bit of cross over in general orthopedics that I am able to discuss.

Although the COVID-19 roller coaster was a tough ride in Q220, Soft Tissue Fixation was stepping out and looking good in Q320

When an unpredictable COVID-19 roller coaster hit the tracks, companies saw revenue plummet in Q220 as stay-at-home orders were implemented (mid-March) and elective surgeries were canceled or postponed indefinitely. The impact of COVID-19 that forced government-imposed restrictions was felt throughout the 2

With restrictions lifted during Q320, the trauma segment rebounded from the prior quarter as procedural volumes increased and revenues hit pre-COVID levels.

In the absence of strict COVID restrictions, the jump ball went to the return of healthy trauma volumes during Q320. Major players cited quarterly growth in line with previous years. Q320 picked up the pace with the US Trauma Market leading the charge, up +4.6%, while the EU and ROW declined.

Among the many topics, including company revenues, shares, charts and expert analysis, covered in the comprehensive Q320 Trauma Market Recap* are:

Orthopedic Robotic Installations Continued to Shatter Expectations in Q320

Orthopedic robotics is still in the early stages of adoption with SmartTRAK estimating that more than 25% of US hospitals have a robot and that fewer than 18% of TKA procedures in the US will have been performed robotically by YE2020. However, Stryker* noted in its Q320 earnings call that orthopedic robotic adoption (MAKO*) has started to reach an inflection point with an uptick in momentum that includes increasing interest, multiple installations in centers, placements into teaching hospitals and a shift to ASCs. Increasing competition from Zimmer Biomet’s* ROSA* and the launch of Smith & Nephew’s* CORI* second-generation robotic platform, has helped to push accounts that were thinking about purchasing a robot to follow through.

Among the many topics, including company revenues, shares, charts and expert analysis, covered in the comprehensive Q320 CAS Ortho Market Recap* are:

Continuing robotic implant pull-through and achievement of enabling technology milestones reflect increasing importance of CAS Spine technology in Q320.

Similar to market dynamics in recon robotics, spine robotics are beginning to reach a tipping point in market acceptance. In its Q320 earnings call, CEO Dave Demski noted that Globus Medical* is seeing increasing interest in its Excelsius GPS* robot and that the Company is in a different part of the robotic adoption curve, with surgeons well beyond their initial skepticism as robots have become more mainstream. Globus and Medtronic* have the strongest positions in enabling technology and robotics in spine. However, competition will be heating up over the next several years.

Orthopedics market stages a third-quarter rally while navigating a new norm.

As the US healthcare system adjusts to the “new” norm brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Orthobiologics market rallied in Q320, ending the quarter up +2.3% YoY. 

Among the many topics, including company revenues, shares, charts and expert analysis, covered in the comprehensive Q320 Orthobio Market Recap* are:

Return of elective procedures in Q320 fanned the flames of Extremities growth.

The return of elective procedures, along with the opening up of the US, fanned the flames of growth in the US with the Extremities Market returning to pre-COVID growth levels in Q320. Strength in both the Upper Extremities and Foot & Ankle Market fueled the fire with US Extremities heating up with +6.6% growth, according to SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard. The US Shoulder Replacement market segment brought the heat in US Upper Extremities which grew +6.3%, while Foot & Ankle Fixation and Ankle Replacement were also up, adding fuel to the fire in the Foot & Ankle market segment.

Orchid Orthopedic Solutions CEO Nate Folkert discusses Orchid and the changing landscape of contract manufacturing

With locations around the globe, Orchid Orthopedic Solutions has partnered with established medical device companies, start-ups and surgeon entrepreneurs. The Company, which was established in 2005, has evolved to include facilities at 13 locations worldwide offering a range of services from contract design and development through finished goods manufacturing and packaging.

Orchid CEO Nate Folkert discusses his recent transition from the device company side of the Orthopedic business to the supply side, the evolving nature of the supply side business and the changes that have come about as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Click on the following video to listen to SmartTRAK’s interview with Folkert recorded live via Zoom (15:09 min). A complete transcript of the interview, with a link to download it, is also provided below.