Covid-related challenges continued to dampen market recovery in Q321. Despite pandemic hurdles, technology that improves surgical precision and real-time workflows is driving adoption and innovation in computer-assisted spine surgery and accelerating the development of products and systems.

Many companies with established enabling technologies are pushing to expand indications for existing systems and bolster them with robust preoperative planning, enhanced navigation and post-op evaluation solutions for start-finish integration within a single line of products. Meanwhile, other players are focusing on open-platform solutions to address care gaps for specific procedures and populations. At the forefront of industry research and development are artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies to aid in imaging, planning and navigation assistance (robotic-assisted and freehand). 

Enabling tech continued to assist above-market growth in Q221 with continued demand for spine robotics and navigation systems. New developments in augmented reality, artificial intelligence and smart instruments continue to push the envelope in the spine space.

The WW Spine CAS market, the US Spine Robotics market and the US Spine Navigation market were all up significantly in Q221 according to SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard. Medtronic* (MDT) remained the market leader with > 50% share, followed by Globus* (GMED) and other enabling tech competitors including Brainlab*, DePuy Synthes* (JNJ) and Stryker* (SYK). For detailed Q221 revenues and shares by company in the US, EU and ROW, see the SmartTRAK CAS Spine Financial Dashboard*. 

Among the many topics, including company revenues, market shares, charts and expert analysis, covered in the comprehensive Q221 CAS Spine Market Recap* are:

We are looking to strengthen our SmartTRAK Spine module with the addition of a qualified person with industry specific experience. All SmartTRAK analysts are former marketing, business development or R&D professionals with one of the major orthopedic/spine suppliers and, in fact, most have come to us via recommendations from our subscribers, as well as those in the industry. We believe that having a person of this caliber with relevant experience and deep insight on the market is a tremendous value-add we can offer SmartTRAK subscribers.

We are looking for person with Spine industry experience who is interested in working approximately 20 hours per week. We would also consider a person who would like to work full-time.Ideally, this person has:

• Deep knowledge of the spine market, especially spine hardware
• Strong communication skills, especially writing
• Good analytical skills and experience with forecasting
• Attention to Detail
• Extensive contacts in the industry with both companies and clinicians

This is a great position for an experienced person who wants to remain in the game but wishes to work part-time.

The US Spine market appears to be continuing on a skyward trajectory...but what’s really on the horizon for Spine?

With Q221 year-over-year growth up almost 46%, the US Spine market appears to be continuing on a skyward trajectory. However, as compared to Q219, Q221 saw growth of only +1.3%, reflecting ongoing COVID challenges. What’s really on the horizon for Spine? While the first half of 2021 has certainly looked much brighter than 2020, one big question remains: how big of an impact will the Delta variant surge have on the back half of the year?

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

The SmartTRAK team is excited to head to Boston for the North American Spine Society (NASS) meeting. Need better business intelligence? Visit us at Booth 3719. SmartTRAK is the most comprehensive business intelligence platform for the MedTech industry. SmartTRAK's real-time data allows everyone in your organization to tap into the same data to drive strategic consistency and increase collaboration across your enterprise. Watch the video below to learn how SmartTRAK can help.

Planning to go to NASS? SmartTRAK will be represented in Boston by:

• Julianne Burns, GM, Spine
• Elise Wolf, VP & GM, Orthopedics
• Kristina Meyer, CCO
• Matt Golembeski, Dir. of Sales
• Joe Mish, Dir. of Sales
• Tim Patrick, Sr. Manager of Corporate Accounts

Meet with us in Boston to learn more about what's coming down the road, including:

• Integration: Combine our data with yours and integrate it into your data analytic platform.
• Customization: Tailor SmartTRAK to match your company's business and create your own business intelligence solution.
• Expanded Functionality: Drive strategic consistency across your enterprise with user-specific enhancements and increase collaboration across your team

Schedule a meeting today!
We know you're going to love what's coming down the road!

SmartTRAK reports that strong sales of spine robotic and enabling technology in Q121 continue to move the ball forward in the adoption curve. Companies are noting an inflection point on the pathway of these technologies becoming mainstream with centers buying multiple robots, and community and university hospitals adopting them.

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

As the impact of COVID continues to decrease, things are looking up for the Spine market. 

Q121 heralded what we all hope is the rebound from the COVID-related downturn, driven by healthcare resource prioritization and the postponement of non-emergent surgeries. The WW Spine Hardware achieved robust growth, according to SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard. Although January and February were again impacted by COVID, procedure volumes improved throughout the quarter, with Alphatec* (ATEC), NuVasive* (NUVA) and SeaSpine* (SPNE) all specifically calling out an uptick around the March timeframe.

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

COVID-19 threw a curveball to spine and orthopedic implant companies in 2020 with the downturn in elective procedures, but one area that continued to make inroads was enabling technologies. Given increasing advances and expanding adoption of these technologies, even during uncertain times, SmartTRAK highlights some significant trends to watch in 2021, including:

1. Flexible Business Models
Companies with robots (Stryker*, MAKO*, Zimmer Biomet*, ROSA*, Smith & Nephew*, NAVIO*/CORI*, Medtronic*, Mazor X*, Globus*, Excelsius GPS) continued to grow at above-market growth in 2020. Record-breaking robotic and navigation system placements in Q3 and Q420 bode well for ...

An initially promising Q4 faltered under the weight of the COVID-19 resurgence, leading to a Q420 WW Spine Hardware Market decline of -1.0%. 

The continued rebound that everyone had been hoping for was dampened by the COVID-19 resurgence in Q420. While the quarter got off to a promising start, COVID headwinds picked up negatively impacting Spine procedure volumes due to challenges with hospital resource utilization and renewed restrictions around elective procedures. For example, NuVasive* management noted that the Company entered Q4 with relatively stable case volumes but experienced market disruption from the resurgence of COVID-19 at the exit of the quarter, most notably in parts of the US and Europe.

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