Mixed Blessings for Medtronic in Professional Spinal Surgery Organizations

Implications: The data presented by multiple professional societies does not lend clinical support of many Medtronic products in the Medicare population.  The data does not support the use of disc arthroplasty in the Medicare population, and does not find any clinical advantage of kyphoplasty over vertebroplasty.  This may mean reduced sales of the Kyphon line of products as well as reduced sales of the Prestige implant, should CMS adopt some of these recommendations.

Analysis:  The data presented support the continued use of Bone Morphogenic Protein and fusion-related implants.The data, however, does not support the use of cervical disc arthroplasty in Medicare patients.  The data presented does not show any advantage of kyphoplasty over vertebroplasty.  The total effect on Medtronic sales may be quite damaging to Medtronic sales if CMS adopts these recommendations.  With CMS focusing its spending control targets on spinal surgery and implants, this data may prove quite influential.