Singapore, Sep 3, 2010: The Japanese plate and screw market will be driven by strong surgeon acceptance and adoption, driving this market to over $170 million by 2014, according to Millennium Research Group (MRG), a medical technology market research company

MRG, in its Japanese Markets for Trauma Devices 2010 report, says Japanese surgeons are increasingly adopting anatomic, locking plating systems, such as Acumed's Acu-Loc plates and Synthes' Locking Compression Plates, in order to manage complex, periarticular fractures.  This is because anatomic plates are precontoured to the dimensions of the periarticular space being treated, minimizing soft tissue irritation and promoting accelerated fracture healing. Surgeons in Japan also show a distinct preference for anatomic plates compared to indication-specific intramedullary nails, especially for nonmedical long-bone fractures.

"Anatomic plating represents a real growth opportunity for domestic and multinational companies," says Arun Jaganathan, analyst at MRG. "Compared to surgeons in the US and Europe, Japanese surgeons are more accepting of clinical evidence, pointing to more stable fixation and improved health outcomes associated with an anatomic plate instead of an intramedullary nail. While there is still some debate among the medical community in this regard, surgeon adoption of anatomic plates will continue to expand in Japan, cannibalizing the noncephalomedullary intramedullary nail market in the process."