After seeing sales of spinal products increase for several years, Medtronic reported plateaued sales between 2009 and 2010. The flattening of sales can be attributed to more surgeons focusing on less expensive conservative options of care and insurance companies, such as the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, issuing stricter guidelines for covering spinal fusions.
Medtronic is responding to the spinal sales climate by enhancing marketing efforts with the hope of creating new clinical and economic evidence to support the products, according to the report.
Read the Minnesota Post report on the spinal device environment.
Read other coverage on spinal fusions:
– ISASS President Dr. Thomas Errico: Spinal Fusion Coverage Update
– Older Women Undergoing Spinal Fusion Have a Higher Risk of Subsequent Vertebral Fractures
– Report Investigates Spinal Fusions Performed By Twin Cities Spine Surgeons
