Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses.
Next question: Which spine care innovation has had the most impact on the industry in recent years?
Please send responses to Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com by Wednesday, June 17, at 5 p.m. CST.
Question: Do you see the M&A activity among orthopedic device companies as a positive or negative trend? Why?
Richard Kube, MD, Founder, CEO, Prairie Spine & Pain Institute, Peoria, Ill.: I think that the consolidation of industry is both good and necessary. 
With the growing pressure on pricing, there are increasing numbers of players in the commodity implant arena. It is a reality that must be faced. Though the aging population likely means more cases/revenue, we really have not seen what I believe is the coming massive impact of commodity implants on the industry.
That being said, the large companies are the source of research and development of new technologies. Low margin, commodity companies do not have the resources for meaningful R&D. As more of the bread and butter cases go from the brand name to the generic, having a strong industry with dozens rather than hundreds of companies may help them to survive as they become increasingly focused upon niche products and complex cases. Survival of these companies is critical if we desire to remain globally competitive with respect to creativity and innovation. The device industry likely understands that too, which is why we are seeing the volume of M&A.
Isador Lieberman, MD, MBA, Director, Scoliosis & Spine Tumor Center, Texas Back Institute (Plano): It is a negative trend. Competition is good and M&A activity cuts out competition.
Neel Anand, MD, Clinical Professor of Surgery, Director, Spine Trauma, Cedars-Sinai Spine Center (Los Angeles): It is a very positive trend. M&A may result in the number of device companies being cut down, which is a good thing. It doesn’t make sense to have 40 companies doing the same thing. Also, the bigger companies can get technology into the hands of people who need it more effectively than smaller companies. However, it is important that smaller companies can still grow and innovate before being acquired.
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What does the frenetic orthopedic device company M&A activity mean for spine?
