Er. Arvind Kumar Prajapati, Amijith. A. M
The human neck is really important because it holds up our head and lets us move it around. But sometimes, people hurt their necks, and it can cause a lot of problems like pain, numbness, and weakness. When this happens, doctors might need to do surgery to fix it. They use special cages called lordotic expandable corpectomy cages to help with the surgery. These cages are like little frames that go in the neck to support it and make it better. They’re great for fixing problems like when the neck gets too narrow, discs wear out, or bones break. These cages can be adjusted to fit each person’s neck perfectly, which has made a big difference in how well people recover from neck surgery.
In India, a lot of people are having problems with their spines, and over 200,000 spinal injuries happen every year. Many of these are in the neck. This is because people are getting older, having accidents, sitting too much, using screens too often, and being overweight. So, having these special cages is really important to help treat these neck problems and make people feel better.
Static vs expandable type cages
Fixed-height cages have become popular because they can help restore the height of the disks between the bones in the spine and improve the alignment of the spine. Lately, we’ve realized that having the spine aligned properly is really important for managing pain and getting back normal functions after surgery. Using these cages is recommended to make sure the spine is aligned well, which can be especially helpful when the bones are not in great condition. However, these cages can cause problems like sinking into the bones, injuring nerves, tearing the covering of the spine, or not fusing properly.On the other hand, expandable cages that can change shape offer a more flexible and less invasive option for neck surgery. They can be adjusted to fit each person’s spine perfectly, which helps reduce the chances of problems like the bones next to the surgery site getting sick. These cages are usually made of materials that the body can tolerate well, like titanium or a special plastic called PEEK. They’re meant to be put between the bones to make sure the spine curves the right way. These cages are good for surgeries where the goal is to do as little damage as possible and they often lead to better results for people who might not do well with traditional surgery.
Those who are considered for conventional fusion surgeries may also benefit from the customizable features of lordotic expandable cages, which are particularly suitable for the varied anatomies and conditions seen in the Indian population. This flexibility enables surgeons to personalize the treatment according to the specific requirements of each patient.
Indian market
The Indian market for lordotic expandable corpectomy cages is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of nearly 5% until 2030 due to the increasing incidence of spinal disorders and the growing demand for minimally invasive spinal surgeries. The Indian spine market is projected to reach nearly $1.0 billion (8,330 Cr.) by 2030. The key players in the Indian market for lordotic expandable corpectomy cages include major medical device companies such as Medtronic, Stryker, Zimmer Biomet, and DePuy Synthes. These companies are constantly striving to innovate and introduce new products to cater to the evolving needs of patients and healthcare professionals. Unfortunately, no Indian manufacturer is currently working on lordotic expandable cages; thus, they are imported to the country. For this reason, they are expensive and cost close to 1.5 lakhs per unit. These factors present a lucrative opportunity for domestic companies to capitalise on this growing market segment.
Despite the significant advantages of lordotic expandable cages for cervical spine surgery, the Indian market faces several challenges and that needs careful attention. One primary challenge is the cost, as these advanced implants are notably more expensive than traditional fusion procedures or non-expandable cages. Nonetheless, the potential for long-term benefits and the reduced risk of post-surgical complications associated with lordotic expandable cages may justify the initial investment. To reduce the device cost, there is a need to emphasize on innovation, quality, and increased participation from startups. The Medical Devices Policy, 2023 and rapid interest of startups in medical device startups provide optimism to see indigenous lordotic expandable cages in the Indian market soon. The development of an indigenous device will provide an essential implant to the Indian population at an affordable cost for a better quality of life.
Authors biography
Er. Arvind Kumar Prajapati is a Scientist/Engineer.He has been closely working in design, development, testing and validation of Knee,Hip, and Spine implants and instruments.
Mr. Amijith A M is a Senior Project Engineer (short term staff)He has been closely working in design, development, testing and validation of Spineimplants and instruments.
