After another difficult year, it's time to get out there and start reconnecting in person. SmartTRAK is excited to be traveling to Charlotte, NC to attend AOFAS at the Charlotte Convention Center, September 21-25.

SmartTRAK will be represented by Natasha Weeks, General Manager, Trauma & Extremities. Natasha is also managing our 3 newest modules, Pediatric Trauma, Pediatric Extremities and Pediatric Spine. If you would like to meet with Natasha while attending the meeting, just click here.

Now that we're back to in-person meetings, it's time to resume our continuing series Know Before You Go, so I sat down and asked Natasha a few questions about what she is looking forward to at AOFAS.

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.

Healthy growth closes out Q420 as the trauma segment recovers in the second half of the year hitting pre-COVID levels.

Despite the rise in COVID cases during Q4, the Trauma Market fared well resulting in positive YoY revenue gains that represented healthy, pre-COVID level volumes. Trauma players cited another quarter of healthy trauma growth, as the second half of the year ended on an upswing (+5.6% vs. H219). Top US market leaders, DePuy Synthes (49.4% Q420 US share), Stryker (27.3%) and Smith & Nephew (9.8%) all reported improved sequential gains.

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