MEDTRONIC SPINE SALES DECLINE – WAITING FOR INFUSE AND KYPHOPLASTY (Orthopedics This Week)
Medtronic Inc.’s overall spine sales declined by 2% to $786 million during the company’s previous quarter.
During a call with Wall Street analysts on May 20, 2014, company leaders said with core spine sales growing, they are counting on the stabilization of kyphoplasty and Infuse to get them back to overall growth.
Core Spine Business Growing
Excluding sales of balloon kyphoplasty (BKP), company management reported that its core spine business grew by 1% to $662 million in a spine market that remained relatively flat on a year-over-year basis. Infuse sales of $124 million declined 11% due to difficult comparisons following the resolution of a supply disruption in the prior year. An Infuse liability settlement also impacted net earnings.
Core spine sales were driven by the company’s surgical Synergy program, which includes imaging, navigation and powered surgical instruments. Management said hospitals are leveraging surgical Synergy by adopting flexible integrated procedural solutions for spine surgery. “They see clear value from improved surgical precision and more efficient procedures. This ...
