Orthopedic Soft Tissue Repair Market

Market Overview

The global orthopedic soft tissue repair market was worth USD 6,461.3 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 10,284.4 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The need for acute and long-term healthcare services is increasing and is expected to drive the global orthopedic soft tissue repair market.

Orthopedic Soft Tissue Repair refers to surgical techniques that repair or reconstruct damaged or injured soft tissues in the joints, such as ligaments, tendons, or muscles. Soft tissues commonly injured during sporting events and physical training include muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Sprains, strains, contusions, tendinitis, and bursitis frequently occur in soft tissue injuries. Even with proper treatment, these injuries may take a long time to heal. Sutures, grafts, anchors, and interference screws are used in these operations to repair or recreate soft tissues. Orthopedic Soft Tissue Repair is an extensively utilized procedure in orthopedic clinics and hospitals.

Market Dynamics

Global Orthopedic Soft Tissue Repair Market Drivers

Increasing Target Population

Improvement in life expectancy has led to a surge in the geriatric population, which is expected to grow significantly. Aging causes major changes in the skeletal and neuromuscular systems, which may lead to arthritis, weakened ligaments, and ACL tears. The increase in the geriatric population has led to a rise in global demand for soft tissue repair surgeries. Bones and connecting tissues, such as tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, weaken with age, which increases the risk of soft tissue injuries, especially in knees and shoulders. The increase in the obese population is another important factor likely to boost the market.

Obesity in the aging population has been reported to directly increase the risk of degenerative bone disorders, such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, further resulting in fracture and target injury owing to the extra pressure exerted on the joints. These conditions increase the patient’s susceptibility to fractures and connective tissue injuries. Degenerative joint disorders primarily affect the knees, hips, and ankles. Therefore, the need for acute and long-term healthcare services is increasing, and it is expected to drive the global orthopedic soft tissue repair market.

Rising Awareness about Soft Tissue Repairs

Neuromuscular training programs are being conducted for athletes, which are expected to significantly help reduce the risk of ACL tears and other injuries. Furthermore, rising awareness about developing, commercializing, and promoting advanced platelet-rich plasma devices is expected to fuel the market for orthopedic soft tissue repair in the long run. Awareness about osteoporosis, the most common disorder in the population over 70 years, is also increasing. The growing prevalence of this disorder can lead to an increase in economic burden for various countries. These factors are expected to propel the orthopedic soft tissue repair market.

Global Orthopedic Soft Tissue Repair Market Restraint

Availability of Alternative Treatments

The availability of several nonsurgical treatments in the market for repairing orthopedic soft tissue injuries might hamper the market growth. Some key nonsurgical treatments are physical therapy, corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and rehabilitation exercises. In addition, platelet-rich plasma therapy is an evolving therapy for chronic joint pain, rapidly gaining popularity in the healthcare sector. The therapy effectively manages pain in conditions such as arthritis and repairing ligament tears and tendinitis. Doctors and healthcare professionals practicing this therapy are fellowship-trained and specialize in internal medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, or physical medicine and rehabilitation. Hence, increasing adoption of such alternative treatments is expected to hamper the orthopedic soft tissue repair market.

Global Orthopedic Soft Tissue Repair Market Opportunities

Technological Advancement

Technological advancements and innovations will likely boost the market further. Treatments such as nerve root blocks, epidural steroid injections, sacroiliac joint injections, and platelet-rich plasma can effectively manage musculoskeletal and neuromuscular pain caused by ligament tears. Anatomic footprint reconstruction allows healthcare professionals to arthroscopically place the ACL graft at the center of a patient's ACL to provide rotational stability to the knee. Various market players, including Zimmer Biomet and NORAKER, have developed new bioabsorbable soft tissue screws over the past few years.

Other major market players also focus on developing mesh with biological products to replace human allografts. For instance, EZ Derm, offered by MoInlycke Health Care, is utilized to dress wounds using wires and pins, independently or together, with various other internal fixation devices. These devices are utilized for surgeries for hip replacement and the spine. Such innovations and advancements will propel the orthopedic soft tissue repair market shortly.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global orthopedic soft tissue market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant global orthopedic soft tissue market shareholder and will likely exhibit a CAGR of 6.8% over the forecast period. Owing to the growing number of sports injuries and high healthcare spending. Moreover, the presence of major players in the North American region also contributes to the growth of the orthopedic soft tissue repair market. In addition, although soft tissue repair surgeries are costly, the availability of advanced healthcare services at affordable prices in this region is anticipated to drive the market for orthopedic soft tissue repair.

Moreover, the number of people engaged in sports and fitness activities and rising sports injuries contribute to the regional market growth. The presence of major players in the region and the strategic initiatives these players undertake boost their visibility and adoption of the devices they provide. Some of the prominent players in the region are Stryker, Arthrex, and Zimmer Biomet.

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.4% over the forecast period. Higher penetration of local manufacturers of medical devices is providing significant growth opportunities for the region's orthopedic soft tissue repair market. Furthermore, the other key factors driving the market are ongoing research in this field, particularly in Japan and India, and the large senior population at risk of musculoskeletal disorders. For instance, Japan is considered the country with the highest geriatric population in the region. Moreover, the region is improving its healthcare infrastructure and standard of living. Furthermore, Asian countries, such as Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea, are famous for medical tourism owing to the low cost of treatments and surgeries. This will likely drive the market further over the forecast period.

In Europe, the aging population is a major social challenge expected to be one of the major drivers of the orthopedic soft tissue repair market. The senior population is at a higher risk of soft tissue injuries, which may boost market growth. In addition, with age, bones and connecting tissues weaken due to natural wear and tear. The increasing incidence of bone disorders among older adults leads to soft tissue damage, which results in greater demand for orthopedic soft tissue repair.

Furthermore, a gap in diagnosis and treatment of bone disorders, such as osteoporosis, can be considered as an alarming situation in the region, and increasing visibility of products by key players and rising awareness regarding the treatment of bone disorders, mainly among the older population, will help in driving growth.

In Latin America, an increase in sports injuries is one of the major factors expected to propel the orthopedic soft tissue repair market in Latin America. Football or soccer is highly popular in Latin America, which often causes soft tissue injuries. Moreover, technological advancements, increasing government spending, and the presence of skilled healthcare professionals are expected to drive the market over the forecast period. Furthermore, a strong distribution network of North American players is further anticipated to drive growth.

In the Middle East and Africa, rapidly growing healthcare expenditure is expected to drive the regional orthopedic soft tissue repair market. Furthermore, key players cater to the high unmet demand generated by people in the region. For instance, Summit Medical signed a distribution agreement with Mosaic International. The collaboration aimed to distribute Summit's products, including Orthomed Soft tissue repair products, in Saudi Arabia. Hence, the presence of key players, improving healthcare infrastructure, and growing visibility of orthopedic soft tissue repair products fuel market growth.

Segmental Analysis

The global orthopedic soft tissue market is bifurcated into procedure and injury location.

Based on the procedure, the global orthopedic soft tissue market is bifurcated into rotator cuff repair, epicondylitis, Achilles tendinosis repair, pelvic organ prolapses, gluteal tendon repair, cruciate ligaments repair, hip arthroscopy, biceps tenodesis, and others.

The cruciate ligament repair segment dominates the global market and will likely exhibit a CAGR of 5.7% over the forecast period. Globally, most knee injury incidences are reported during sports and physical activities. Aging and obesity are considered the main factors that can lead to a rise in orthopedic soft tissue injuries in the knees. Aging can lead to loss of optimal bodily functions, weakened bones, and decreased mobility and flexibility, leading to knee injuries. ACL injury and tear is the most common form of soft tissue injury in knees.

Increased awareness about potential threats of developing arthritis from uncorrected ACL tears and injuries is expected to push patients to opt for invasive or minimally invasive surgeries. The growing aging and obese populations, as well as the increasing rate of sports injuries, road traffic accidents, and trauma, is leading to a greater incidence of ACL injuries, making the cruciate ligament repair the most profitable segment among soft tissue repair segments and is likely to continue growing rapidly in the coming years.

The global orthopedic soft tissue market is segmented into knees, shoulders, hips, and small joints based on injury location.

The knee segment dominates the global market and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period. Knee injuries are the most common example of soft tissue injuries. This segment comprises ligament tears, cartilage injuries, and tendon injuries due to physical activities, sports activities, trauma, medical ailments such as arthritis, heavy or stiff-legged landing, and accidents. Soft tissue knee injuries commonly damage the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL). Physiotherapy is often recommended to strengthen the surrounding muscles and improve the elasticity and movement of bones and joints. Advanced treatments for knee injuries include dry needling, soft tissue massage, osteopathic manipulation, platelet-rich plasma therapy, and surgeries.

Thus, an increase in the number of treatment options and incidence of knee injuries is expected to drive the demand for innovative treatment options for knee-related injuries. Thus, the segment will be expected to maintain its market position owing to the increase in several knee surgeries. However, the high cost of such devices and prolonged follow-ups are major factors likely to limit market growth.

Recent Developments

• May 2023-DePuy Synthes, a medical equipment manufacturer, introduced a novel rotator cuff repair device. The device is a minimally invasive implant intended to aid patients in their recovery from rotator cuff injuries.
• March 2023- CartiHeal, a firm that develops and markets cartilage repair solutions, was bought by Arthrex, a renowned orthopedic device maker. Arthrex's position in the orthopedic soft tissue repair industry is projected to improve due to the purchase.