Large Joint Replacement Market: Set For A Rebound?

The hip and knee reconstruction market was especially hard-hit by the economic downturn of the past several years, as US patients, many of whom lost their jobs and/or insurance, postponed needed joint replacement surgery, and European markets, hit with bruising austerity measures, also came under pressure. The one bright spot was in emerging market countries (particularly China, India, and Brazil), which posted high single-digit or low double-digit growth in hip and knee implant sales revenues, albeit off a smaller base, as the US and European markets sputtered. Growth prospects going forward are expected to continue to be strongest in the emerging markets; however, slow but steady improvements in the global economy could help set the stage for a rebound in this market in the US and Europe beginning this year and accelerating in 2014, driven by pent-up procedural demand and favorable underlying demographics.

Indeed, there have been encouraging signs already suggesting the US joint reconstruction market may be on the mend, with Depuy Synthes/Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Stryker Corp., and