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The spine market constantly attracts startups that see opportunities to innovate. One of its newer entrants, though, is Arthrex, a top orthopedic company that plans to apply its decades of leadership in sports medicine to spine surgery.
Arthrex has nearly $3 billion in annual sales and ranks sixth in orthopedics and first in sports medicine, according to our estimates. While the company’s orthobiologics products have been used in spinal fusion procedures for years, Arthrex launched an endoscopic spine portfolio in the fall of 2023 at NASS. It was a natural progression for a company that is less concerned with specialty categorization and more focused on medical innovation and minimally invasive procedures, said Zak Kemp, Arthrex’s Director of Global Spine.
Arthrex’s products are used for medial branch nerve transection and discectomy, as well as some decompressions and fusions, Mr. Kemp said. He noted that endoscopic approaches are newer to spine surgery. Applications will expand to more complex cases once surgeons become more proficient with the instruments and monitor-based visualization and realize the benefits of performing intricate surgeries through small incisions.
“The integration of our visualization cameras and endoscopes into spine surgery has significantly driven the adoption of endoscopic techniques,” Mr. Kemp said. “Surgeons now report enhanced visualization with endoscopes compared to traditional microscopes, allowing them to operate in nearly bloodless environments with unprecedented clarity and precision in anatomical visualization.”
The company’s initial launch focused on the U.S. spine market. It expects to expand the product portfolio globally within the next 24 months.
What interested Arthrex in the spine market?
Mr. Kemp: Upon evaluating the spine market, we observed that many spine surgeries, particularly spinal fusions, were performed through large open incisions. Even non-fusion surgeries often rely on invasive methods, which cause significant muscle and tissue disruption.
We recognized an opportunity to apply our expertise in medical education and product development to introduce a tissue-sparing, minimally invasive approach to spine surgery. Arthrex is bringing a new perspective to spine.
What have you heard from surgeons since launching in 2023?
Mr. Kemp: The feedback from the surgeon community has been overwhelmingly positive. Surgeons familiar with Arthrex from their orthopedic training are excited about the unique potential we bring to the spine market, particularly with our ultra-minimally invasive and motion-preserving techniques.
It has also been especially rewarding to introduce Arthrex to neurosurgeons who were previously unfamiliar with our company. They tend to appreciate our focus on helping surgeons treat patients better as a privately held company with no outside investors and are often impressed by our campus and facilities that are dedicated to medical education.
What barriers remain for greater adoption of endoscopic spine surgery?
Mr. Kemp: Education remains a major hurdle. Most spine surgeons do not receive endoscopic training during their residency or fellowship. Learning to use an endoscope is typically something surgeons must pursue individually post-training. This can be challenging due to the time commitment required, low volume of course offerings and associated costs for training.
Some societies have started offering endoscopic spine labs as part of their meetings, but those are usually only half-day events. Arthrex addresses these challenges by offering medical education facilities on the East and West Coasts.
Arthrex faculty surgeon Michael Gallizzi, M.D., and clinical specialists attend an endoscopic spine medical education training course.
What is the size of the endoscopic spine market? What growth do you expect over the next five years?
Mr. Kemp: The use of endoscopy in spine surgery is currently more popular in Europe and Asia than in the U.S., but even globally, it remains in its early stages compared to other specialties. Accurate market data differentiating procedures done with endoscopes, microscopes or loupes still need to be improved, and some surgeons have started creating their own databases to track outcomes.
However, patient demand for endoscopic spine surgery is growing, which will drive greater adoption among surgeons over the next five years. Many surgeons tell us they decided to learn endoscopy because, as they put it, ‘If I needed surgery, I would want it done this way.’
How do you plan to support fusion procedures?
Mr. Kemp: We currently support them through our comprehensive biologics portfolio, which includes widely used cellular and bone graft products. While the portfolio does not include spinal fusion hardware, our biologics offerings are among the most extensive in orthopedics, effectively supporting surgeons in fusion procedures.
Does Arthrex see itself as a spine company, or is this focus an extension of your sports medicine business?
Mr. Kemp: Our focus on repair and reconstruction for motion preservation broadens the traditional definition of a spine company. While sports medicine is our foundation, we have expanded into various specialties, including extremities, trauma, total joints, endoscopy, cardiothoracic surgery and now spine, or you might say, sports spine.
One of the only categorical ways we define ourselves is as a privately owned company. This allows us to do the right thing for patients, surgeons and our employees without always focusing on return on investment to appease investors.
The spine market constantly attracts startups that see opportunities to innovate. One of its newer entrants, though, is Arthrex, a top orthopedic company that plans to apply its decades of leadership in sports medicine to spine surgery.
Arthrex has nearly $3 billion in annual sales and ranks sixth in orthopedics and first in sports...
The spine market constantly attracts startups that see opportunities to innovate. One of its newer entrants, though, is Arthrex, a top orthopedic company that plans to apply its decades of leadership in sports medicine to spine surgery.
Arthrex has nearly $3 billion in annual sales and ranks sixth in orthopedics and first in sports medicine, according to our estimates. While the company’s orthobiologics products have been used in spinal fusion procedures for years, Arthrex launched an endoscopic spine portfolio in the fall of 2023 at NASS. It was a natural progression for a company that is less concerned with specialty categorization and more focused on medical innovation and minimally invasive procedures, said Zak Kemp, Arthrex’s Director of Global Spine.
Arthrex’s products are used for medial branch nerve transection and discectomy, as well as some decompressions and fusions, Mr. Kemp said. He noted that endoscopic approaches are newer to spine surgery. Applications will expand to more complex cases once surgeons become more proficient with the instruments and monitor-based visualization and realize the benefits of performing intricate surgeries through small incisions.
“The integration of our visualization cameras and endoscopes into spine surgery has significantly driven the adoption of endoscopic techniques,” Mr. Kemp said. “Surgeons now report enhanced visualization with endoscopes compared to traditional microscopes, allowing them to operate in nearly bloodless environments with unprecedented clarity and precision in anatomical visualization.”
The company’s initial launch focused on the U.S. spine market. It expects to expand the product portfolio globally within the next 24 months.
What interested Arthrex in the spine market?
Mr. Kemp: Upon evaluating the spine market, we observed that many spine surgeries, particularly spinal fusions, were performed through large open incisions. Even non-fusion surgeries often rely on invasive methods, which cause significant muscle and tissue disruption.
We recognized an opportunity to apply our expertise in medical education and product development to introduce a tissue-sparing, minimally invasive approach to spine surgery. Arthrex is bringing a new perspective to spine.
What have you heard from surgeons since launching in 2023?
Mr. Kemp: The feedback from the surgeon community has been overwhelmingly positive. Surgeons familiar with Arthrex from their orthopedic training are excited about the unique potential we bring to the spine market, particularly with our ultra-minimally invasive and motion-preserving techniques.
It has also been especially rewarding to introduce Arthrex to neurosurgeons who were previously unfamiliar with our company. They tend to appreciate our focus on helping surgeons treat patients better as a privately held company with no outside investors and are often impressed by our campus and facilities that are dedicated to medical education.
What barriers remain for greater adoption of endoscopic spine surgery?
Mr. Kemp: Education remains a major hurdle. Most spine surgeons do not receive endoscopic training during their residency or fellowship. Learning to use an endoscope is typically something surgeons must pursue individually post-training. This can be challenging due to the time commitment required, low volume of course offerings and associated costs for training.
Some societies have started offering endoscopic spine labs as part of their meetings, but those are usually only half-day events. Arthrex addresses these challenges by offering medical education facilities on the East and West Coasts.
Arthrex faculty surgeon Michael Gallizzi, M.D., and clinical specialists attend an endoscopic spine medical education training course.
What is the size of the endoscopic spine market? What growth do you expect over the next five years?
Mr. Kemp: The use of endoscopy in spine surgery is currently more popular in Europe and Asia than in the U.S., but even globally, it remains in its early stages compared to other specialties. Accurate market data differentiating procedures done with endoscopes, microscopes or loupes still need to be improved, and some surgeons have started creating their own databases to track outcomes.
However, patient demand for endoscopic spine surgery is growing, which will drive greater adoption among surgeons over the next five years. Many surgeons tell us they decided to learn endoscopy because, as they put it, ‘If I needed surgery, I would want it done this way.’
How do you plan to support fusion procedures?
Mr. Kemp: We currently support them through our comprehensive biologics portfolio, which includes widely used cellular and bone graft products. While the portfolio does not include spinal fusion hardware, our biologics offerings are among the most extensive in orthopedics, effectively supporting surgeons in fusion procedures.
Does Arthrex see itself as a spine company, or is this focus an extension of your sports medicine business?
Mr. Kemp: Our focus on repair and reconstruction for motion preservation broadens the traditional definition of a spine company. While sports medicine is our foundation, we have expanded into various specialties, including extremities, trauma, total joints, endoscopy, cardiothoracic surgery and now spine, or you might say, sports spine.
One of the only categorical ways we define ourselves is as a privately owned company. This allows us to do the right thing for patients, surgeons and our employees without always focusing on return on investment to appease investors.
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Carolyn LaWell is ORTHOWORLD's Chief Content Officer. She joined ORTHOWORLD in 2012 to oversee its editorial and industry education. She previously served in editor roles at B2B magazines and newspapers.
