The US spinal nonfusion technology segment will see an increase in procedure volumes through 2013 largely at the expense of traditional spinal fusion.

March 25, 2009—Waltham, Massachusetts—According to Millennium Research Group’s (MRG’s) new US Markets for Spinal Implants 2009 report, the US spinal nonfusion technology segment will see an increase in procedure volumes through 2013 largely at the expense of traditional spinal fusion. Nonfusion spinal implant revenues are expected to grow to $1.7 billion in the US by 2013, due mostly to escalating procedure volumes.

The release of new spinal nonfusion products will result in an influx of favorable clinical data and increased marketing of these new devices and technologies, fueling physician awareness and adoption. For example, Disc Dynamics and Intrinsic Therapeutics have already begun promoting their devices in the nuclear disc prosthesis and annulus repair segments, respectively, although the product launches are not expected for several years in the US. Favorable reimbursement decisions are also expected to drive procedure growth through 2013. Granting of reimbursement will give more patients access to motion-preservation solutions.

“Despite the rapid market growth we’ve seen in recent years, some obstacles have really hindered the adoption of spinal nonfusion technologies,” says Kevin Flewwelling, Manager of the Orthopedics division at MRG. “For example, the cervical artificial disc market hasn’t grown as fast as originally anticipated due largely to limited reimbursement coverage across the US; however, mounting patient and surgeon demand for these technologies will ensure continued robust growth through 2013, particularly if companies can successfully obtain additional favorable reimbursement coverage throughout the US.”

MRG’s US Markets for Spinal Implants 2009 report provides coverage of key industry competitors, including Abbott Spine (acquired by Zimmer), Aesculap Implant Systems, Biomet Spine, Blackstone Medical (Orthofix), DePuy Spine, Globus Medical, Medtronic Spinal and Biologics, NuVasive, Stryker Spine, Synthes Spine, Zimmer Spine, and many more.