Epilepsy Surgery Market

Market Overview

The global epilepsy surgery market size was valued at USD 1,062.6 million in 2022. It is expected to reach USD 1,768.02 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.82% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) illness. Frequent, unwarranted seizures characterize a chronic neurological condition called "epilepsy." People with epilepsy frequently experience unknown causes of seizures. Although the precise causes of these seizures are still unknown, they could have been triggered by a traumatic event or a previous brain injury. Both adults and children are frequently affected by the disorder, but the risk of infection is higher in the elderly population.

Market Dynamics

Global Epilepsy Surgery Market Drivers

Increased Brain Injuries from Road Accidents

Any head trauma or TBI can cause epilepsy or seizures. Accidents, fall, and unsafe work environments are common causes. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel 2020, 1.35 million people die in traffic accidents annually, and 3,700 die daily. In addition, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, India has 11% of all road fatalities despite having 1% of the world's vehicles. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common reason for epilepsy in people 15 to 24.

Further, depressed skull fractures and penetration wounds often cause seizure disorder. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, 1 in 10 hospitalized TBI patients experienced seizures in 2019. Additionally, 1 in 2 brain injury sufferers experiences post-traumatic epilepsy within a year. Epilepsy risk increases with head injury severity. The CDC estimates that falls will cause 47% of TBIs in 2020, especially in young children and the elderly. Other causes of TBIs include sports-related injuries (21%), blunt force trauma (15%), auto accidents (14%), and violent assaults (9%). TBI killed 61,000 in 2019. Increased traffic accidents and TBIs will boost the global epilepsy surgery market during the forecast period.

Development and Use of Robot-Assisted Surgery

Modern technology is used for surgical planning, navigation, and robotic guidance during cranial procedures, saving patients from invasive craniotomy. The benefits of minimally invasive procedures are better patient outcomes, significantly lower complication rates, and shorter hospital stays. A growing number of epilepsy patients prefer epilepsy surgery that uses stereo electroencephalography (SEEG), biopsy, thermal ablation of seizure foci or tumors, Deep brain stimulation (DBS), and surgical treatment of movement disorders. Specialized stereotactic frames were used before computer-guided robotic arms were adapted from the automotive industry for neurosurgical use. To create a basic plan for SEEG, neurologists and neurosurgeons work together under the direction of a noninvasive presurgical epilepsy workup. More than 150 recording sites may be available from a typical montage of 10 electrodes.

Furthermore, there have been few reports of robotic stereotactic assistance in pediatric neurosurgery. The ROSA One Brain Application, a robotic surgical navigation and positioning system for neurosurgical procedures, was approved by the US FDA for Zimmer Biomet in 2019. The company's ROSA Brain portfolio significantly impacted epilepsy surgery because the robot's speed and accuracy make it ideal for intricate procedures in which numerous instruments are inserted into the brain. As a result, the market for epilepsy surgery is becoming more profitable due to hospitals and research facilities' increasing use of equipment for robot-assisted surgery.

Global Epilepsy Surgery Market Restraints

Complications and Strict Government Regulations Related to Surgery

Different regulatory processes for neurosurgical devices have led to varying levels of accessibility in various geographical areas. The selection of a control or comparison condition and patient heterogeneity are significant and challenging aspects of clinical trials for neurosurgical devices. An investigation into the various patient pathways, referral, surgical timelines, and surgical and medical treatment options for refractory epilepsy patients referred to Tertiary Epilepsy Clinics in New South Wales, Australia, was published in 2019 in BMC Neurology. Serious complications can arise from temporal lobe surgery in patients with refractory epilepsy.

Despite a significant improvement in freedom from seizures and a higher quality of life with surgery compared to medication, a pediatric study found a 33% rate of serious adverse events. The Epilepsy Society reports that about 30% of patients who undergo temporal lobe surgery discover that the procedure does not end their seizures. Companies looking for regulatory approval of their equipment must adhere to strict standards due to complications, risks, and invasive procedures.

Global Epilepsy Surgery Market Opportunities

Growing Demand in Emerging Markets

Due to technological advancements, a growing elderly population at risk for seizure disorders, and government initiatives to fund research studies on epilepsy surgery, emerging markets are anticipated to present growth opportunities for global market participants. For instance, engineers at Brazil's University of So Paulo's So Carlos School of Engineering are creating a robot that will be used during surgeries on epileptic children. The researchers developed the new technology using a cutting-edge, 1.6-meter-long, 45-kilogram articulated mechanical arm imported from Germany. In addition, players in the global epilepsy surgery market compete to offer well-regulated patient services of the highest quality.

Additionally, manufacturers are forming a strategic partnerships with research organizations and top hospitals to provide the tools needed for surgery, maintain the products, and train healthcare professionals. For instance, a study article released in October 2018 discussed the cooperation between US-based healthcare professionals traveling to Hanoi, Vietnam, Vietnamese healthcare professionals traveling to the US, case review, and real-time mentorship using internet-based communication platforms for improved surgical care since 2015. By 2017, Vietnam had performed 40 pediatric epilepsy surgeries. In addition, many of the market's major players are collaborating and signing agreements to launch new products and broaden their product lines.

Regional Analysis

Americas Dominate the Global Market

By region, the global epilepsy surgery market is segmented into Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.

America is the most significant contributor to the global epilepsy surgery market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.20% during the forecast period. Due to several factors, including reputable medical facilities, the high prevalence of neurological disorders, and the rising incidence of epilepsy, the Americas have dominated the global market for epilepsy surgery. According to estimates, 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with the fourth most common neurological disease, a Central Nervous System (CNS) disorder that causes seizures. Epilepsy is becoming more common among Americans. The highest incidence rates are in small children under two years old and individuals 65 and older.

Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.12% during the forecast period. Europe has developed into a significant market for epilepsy surgery due to rising research and development expenditures, the creation of effective epilepsy medications, and a high prevalence of epilepsy disease. The region has significant growth potential, which will aid in the market growth for epilepsy surgery in the upcoming years. Additionally, companies in the European Union have increased their investments in research and development, according to the 2020 EU Industrial Research and Development Scoreboard. Compared to 2018, European businesses invested 5.6% more in R&D in 2019. The production of effective epilepsy treatments is also rising in the area. The European Commission is approving more drugs for treating epilepsy, which helps the market in the region grow.

The Asia-Pacific region offers lucrative opportunities for players in the epilepsy surgery market due to the presence of a sizeable geriatric population, government initiatives to improve the healthcare sector, increased research and development activities, and an increase in the incidence of epilepsy in the region. The elderly population has a very high prevalence of epilepsy. Epilepsy is thought to affect 10.8 people out of every 1,000 people. In addition, the WHO reported that the population of South-East Asia is aging quickly. It is predicted that by 2030 and 2050, the proportion of people who are elderly will rise to 13.7% and 20.3%, respectively. The region's epilepsy market is expanding due to the growing geriatric population.

Additionally, epilepsy is becoming more common among Asians. Asia is home to about 4 billion people, or 50% of the world's population, and 23 million have epilepsy, according to the Epilepsia Journal. The increased risk of endemic central nervous system infections such as cerebral malaria, neurocysticercosis, meningitis, and encephalitis may cause a higher incidence of epilepsy in this area. As a result, the governments of numerous Asian nations are launching initiatives to improve the healthcare industry. The healthcare businesses in this area are also making significant investments in R&D.

The Middle East, Africa, and Latin America are the three main geographic areas into which the Middle East and Africa epilepsy surgery market is divided. Elements like the rising prevalence of epilepsy, the rise in the geriatric population, and the increasing disposable income of people in the area drive the market for epilepsy surgery. According to WHO, 10 million people on the African continent have epilepsy. Children and the elderly are more likely to develop epilepsy than other age groups. The WHO predicts that there will be 67 million elderly people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2025 and 163 million by 2050. The prevalence of epilepsy is increasing in the Middle East as age is the leading risk factor. One of the most prevalent chronic neurological conditions affecting millions of people in the area is epilepsy. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) estimates that 5 million people throughout the Americas suffer from epilepsy.

Segmental Analysis

The global epilepsy surgery market is segmented by procedure type and end-user.

Based on procedure type, the global market is bifurcated into resective surgery and laser interstitial thermal therapy.

The resective surgery segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.85% during the forecast period. In reconstructive surgery, a small portion of the brain is removed. The surgeon removes brain tissue from the brain region that causes seizures, typically where a tumor, brain injury, or malformation is present. Around 70% of patients who undergo temporal lobe surgery discover that the procedure ends their seizures; 20% also report a decrease in seizure frequency. Even after receiving two antiepileptic medications in an adequate dosage for a year, 30% to 40% of patients with refractory seizure disorders require epilepsy surgery. In cases where a patient has epileptogenic foci, reconstructive surgery is performed. The development of stereotactic radiosurgery, MR-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy, and subdural electroencephalogram-guided radiofrequency thermal coagulation has led to newer dimensions in minimally invasive techniques.

Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, which involves seizures that do not respond to medication, can undergo Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LiTT), a minimally invasive procedure. Some people who experience focal seizures, which start in a particular area of the brain, may benefit from LiTT. An average LITT procedure lasts three to four hours. The FDA and Medicare have approved new MRI-guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LiTT) systems for ablation of neurological soft tissue. In addition, according to a study published in August 2020 in PubMed, patients with temporal lobe epilepsy had a pooled seizure freedom rate of 58%, while patients with mesial temporal sclerosis had a rate of 66% after LITT. Approximately 1.2% of Americans have epilepsy, a broad category of neurological conditions that result in seizures, and 0.6% of children between the ages of 0 and 17 have it actively. About 25% of these kids still have trouble controlling their seizures despite taking antiepileptic drugs. The adoption rate of this market is expected to rise due to the high number of epilepsy patients and the higher success rate of LITT.

Based on end-user, the global market is bifurcated into hospitals and clinics and specialty centers.

The hospitals and clinic segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.66% during the forecast period. According to end-users, hospitals and clinics dominate the world market for epilepsy surgery. This share is primarily attributed to the rise in patients with epilepsy receiving diagnoses and undergoing epilepsy surgery. Patients typically prefer to receive care in a hospital because comprehensive and advanced treatments are available. Clinics are another type of medical facility that treats epilepsy patients. The regions of Europe, the Americas, and developing nations like Russia, China, and India have the greatest concentration of hospitals that provide care for this illness. However, most people cannot afford these costs due to the high cost of diagnosis and treatment, particularly in developing economies. Using prevalence data from the Epilepsy Foundation, between 1.3 million and 2.8 million people have epilepsy (or 5 to 8.4 for every 1,000 people).

Recent Developments

• September 2022- The first participant in the REMASTer (Recurrent Brain Metastases After Stereotactic Radiosurgery [SRS] Trial) clinical trial was enrolled, according to a Monteris Medical announcement. Researching laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) with the NeuroBlate System as an early intervention for radiographically progressing brain metastases is the goal of this randomized controlled study. It also aims to provide Level I evidence to help with treatment decisions for this complex patient population.