by: TigerPosted on:

Sports Medicine’s big moment is here.

I am noticing a new trend.

The sports medicine space is bubbling up with alot of potential this year, and it might just be poised to become the hottest segment in orthopedics. Five reasons why sports med could be on the cusp of a breakout moment:

  • Procedure Specific: Sports medicine is ripe for procedure specific kits to replace generic sutures, anchors and cutting guides.
  • Material Evolution: New techniques, new material combinations, new synthetic regenerative solutions, paired with biologic recruiting mechanisms, are pushing boundaries.
  • Surgical Shift: Open surgical techniques in sports medicine are increasingly moving to closed, minimally invasive approaches, improving recovery times and outcomes.
  • Untapped Tech: Unlike other ortho segments, sports med has yet to see imaging or navigation specific systems or even robotics. S+N is leading the charge with their TESSA system (check it out here). This could be the first of many robotic innovations to transform how sports med procedures are performed.
  • Regulatory Advantage: Most products fall under the Class II pathway (unlike the cartilage space), offering a fast route to market and revenue.

A Historical Lens on Orthopedic Golden Eras

Innovation comes in waves. Looking back, each orthopedic subspecialty tends to experience “golden periods” of innovation and investment.

Based on my observations, below are the dates when each space in Ortho was ripe for innovation.

We are currently leaving Extremities as it’s becoming over-saturated. We are entering the Sports Med wave, then will be entering the Imaging/Navigation wave.

  • Trauma: 1970
  • Joints: 1980
  • Spine: 1990
  • Biologics: 2000
  • Robotics: 2006
  • Extremities: 2010
  • Sports Med: 2025
  • Imaging/Navigation: 2028
  • AI Super Agents: 2030
  • Cartilage Regen/Repair: 2035

Startups Heating Up the Space

Sports medicine startups are popping up left and right, focusing on both fixation and biologics., excluding cartilage regeneration plays, as there are hundreds of Sports Med companies.

A few names catching attention include:

  • Abanza – WasherCap, approved for soft tissue graft fixation, offers stronger fixation than standard devices, independent of bone quality, potentially benefiting patients with weaker bones.
  • Winter Orthopedics – EasyWhip is indicated for use in approximation and/or ligation of soft tissues, including the use of allograft tissue for orthopedic surgeries.
  • Miach Orthopaedics – Product/Service: Develops the BEAR Implant, a device that facilitates natural healing of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, transforming treatment from reconstruction to restoration.
  • Embody – collagen-based implants for soft tissue repair, targeting tendon and ligament injuries in sports medicine, such as rotator cuff and knee ligament repairs.
  • Tesa Medical – the only digital measuring device for ACL tension during surgery.
  • Field Orthopaedics – hand and wrist fracture management solutions, including the Micro Screw and NX Nail systems for comprehensive fracture care.
  • Native Orthopedics – knotless fixation system to repair meniscal root tears, aiming to correct meniscal extrusion, prevent arthritis progression, and preserve knee function by maintaining native anatomy.
  • BodyCAD – personalized orthopedic restorations using 3D printing technology, enabling patient-specific implants and instruments for surgeries like knee replacements.
  • Lazurite – ArthroFree Wireless Camera and Meridiem light technology, enhancing visualization during orthopedic surgeries with wireless, advanced imaging solutions.
  • Magnesium Development Company – bioabsorbable magnesium alloy implants, specifically the HC Screw, designed for orthopedic fixation with natural degradation over time.
  • OSSIO – OSSIOfiber implants, a bio-integrative material for orthopedic fixation that supports natural bone regeneration, leaving no permanent hardware behind.
  • Convergence Medical – V01 robotic system for minimally invasive joint surgery, particularly for arthroscopy procedures on knees, shoulders, and other joints.
  • DanaMed – Pathfinder ACL Guide, a 3D-printed surgical tool for ACL reconstruction, aiming to reduce re-tear risks and improve surgical precision.
  • OTS Medical – patient-focused arthroscopic solutions for soft tissue repair, likely including devices to enhance surgical outcomes in orthopedic procedures.
  • Ortho Regenerative Technologies – Chitogen-PRP hybrid biologic implants for soft tissue repair, using a Chitosan-based biopolymer matrix to augment tissue regeneration in conditions like tendon and ligament injuries.
  • and more and more

These companies are betting big on the growth potential of sports med, and their innovations could redefine the field.

M&A Activity Signals Momentum

The sports medicine space isn’t just attracting startups—it’s drawing the eye of bigger players too. Take Medartis’ recent acquisition of Parcus Medical, a specialist in sports medicine and arthroscopy solutions. Or the recent Stryker’s acquisition of Artelon. Responsive Arthroscopy entered into a strategic distribution agreement with Johnson & Johnson MedTech in November 2024. Deals like this underscore the growing appetite for consolidation and investment in the Sports Med sector.

Final Thoughts

Sports medicine is at a tipping point. With a wide-open field for technology, a favorable regulatory landscape, and a surge of startup energy, it’s shaping up to be the next hot space in orthopedics. Keep your eyes on 2025—this could be when sports med takes center stage.