Surgical Retractors Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Handheld, Self-Retaining), By Product (Abdominal Retractor, Finger Retractor, Nerve Retractor, Orthopedic Retractor , Rectal Retractor, Thoracic Retractor, Ribbon Retractor, Others), By Application (Neurosurgery, Wound Closure, Reconstructive Surgery, Cardiovascular, Orthopedic, Obstetrics, Gynecology (Ob/Gyn), Others), By End-Users (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Clinics) and By Region(North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, LATAM) Forecasts, 2022-2030

Market Overview

The global surgical retractors market size is expected to be valued at USD 2.76 billion in 2030, registering a CAGR of 6.8% from 2022 to 2030.

Surgical retractors are instruments that assist surgeons and operating room professionals in holding an incision or wound open during surgical procedures.

Steel is used to make surgical retractors, with a handle to hold on to at one end and a curved or angled blade at the other. Retractors for surgery are also known as detractors of surgery. The edges of surgical wounds are separated by the use of surgical retractors by the surgeons. They can also hold the back of an organ or piece of tissue. To use these instruments during surgical procedures, either a robotic approach or a hand approach is possible. Surgical retractors aid in holding back any tissues or organs, thereby allowing the attending professional better visibility. This provides better access to the exposed area or the surgical site. Surgical retractors come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and designs. They allow for precise navigation and are highly helpful. The global surgical retractors market can be categorized as type, product, application, and end-users.

Market Dynamics

Drivers: Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Disorders

Chronic disorders are the primary reason for undergoing surgeries. Disorders such as neurological, cardiovascular, infectious, and urological diseases are at the top of the list targeting the geriatric population. According to the World Federation of Neurology, 12 out of 100 patients are fatal. Fatalities due to neurological disorders rose to 12% globally. Additionally, the WHO stated that the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost due to neurological disorders will increase from 95 million to 103 million by 2030. The rising neurological disorders are expected to contribute a larger market share to the volume of global surgical retractors during the forecast. 

Cardiovascular disorders are also witnessed as a top excuse for the rising number of heart surgeries. The increasing geriatric population will further add to the growth of the market. According to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division, the total population aged above 60 will increase from 9.2% in 1990 to 11.7% in 2013 and further increase to 21.1% by 2050. People aged above 60 have a higher potential for chronic disorders. These factors will contribute to the exponential growth of the surgical retractors market. 

Drivers: Growing Surgical Procedures and Rising Road Accidents

Factors such as increasing occurrences of road accidents will lead to the growth of the global surgical retractors market during the forecast. According to a report released by WHO, around 10 million people are injured or disabled due to road accidents. Rising road accidents lead to wound injuries, which usher surgeries. This positively impacts the growth rate of surgical retractors. Additionally, according to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, an estimated 2.35 million people globally are injured due to road accidents. Accident-related injuries include burn-related injuries, sport and trauma injuries, and fall-based injuries. The American Burn Association notes that 44% of hospital admissions account for burn injuries. 

A rising number of surgical procedures are performed on a daily basis globally. At the OMICS International Conference 2015, around 234 million surgical procedures were performed. A report by Plastic Surgery Statistics Report notes that 17.5 million cosmetic surgeries and minimally invasive surgeries were performed in the US in 2017. These factors are expected to contribute to the global growth of the surgical retractors market as the forecast persists. 

Restraints: Product Recalls and Operational Complications

A wide range of product recalls is expected to decrease the outreach of surgical retractors as they are often found to diminish consumer confidence. Product recalls taking place due to a variety of reasons. However, when it comes to surgical retractors, the most common factors are device heating issues and corrosion of blades. For instance, in August 2020, Smith and Nephew, Inc. recalled their Single RIKKI Retractors because the blades were improperly heat treated. 

Surgical retractors play a pivotal role in performing a wide range of surgeries by enabling proper visualization of the surgical site. Surgical retractors often hold up tissues or organs during the surgical procedure, leading to complications. They need to be carefully placed as mismanagement of these devices can lead to a deeper incision at the treatment site. This leads to tissue infections. Additionally, stringent regulatory policies and a lower rate of reimbursement scenarios will create hurdles for market growth. Also, a lack of skilled professionals is expected to downplay the market opportunity for the global surgical retractors market share. 

Opportunities: Growing Awareness Regarding Minimally Invasive Surgery

Open surgeries are one of the most common procedures used to treat a wide range of conditions and disorders. These surgeries include making wide incisions, increasing the risk of injury, and further increasing post-op recovery time. To avoid these, many patients globally are opting for minimally invasive surgeries. For instance, tubular retractor systems offer a direct field of vision of the surgical site that provides anatomical similarity to surgeons. This leads to a reduction in the risk of tissue infections or tissue trauma. The development of surgical retractors for these kinds of surgeries is accelerated at a full pace. 

The COVID-19 outbreak also presented a lucrative opportunity for open surgeries. Health workers and surgeons were at a high risk of acquiring an infection by coming into contact or inhaling particles. Minimally invasive surgeries played a creative role by lowering the risk of infections during this period as they did not involve any huge incisions. While necessary precautions were required, the rising adoption of minimally invasive surgeries will create a breeding ground for the market to flourish. 

Regional Analysis

The Prominence of North America and Europe

North America will account for the largest surgical retractors market share during the forecast period with an estimated market value of USD 494.6 million in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period. Factors such as increasing preventive surgeries coupled with chronic disorders including cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases will contribute to the market’s growth in the region.

The US accounted for 83.3% of the total market value in North America, owing to the rising prevalence of cancer in the region along with the geriatric population. Additionally, increasing preference for minimally invasive surgeries over open surgeries is expected to positively impact the market and quote the value at a higher rate. 

Europe accounted for the second-largest market share, occupying 28.0% of the global market revenue. The market was estimated at a value of USD 452.2 million in 2020 and will witness a value of USD 800.6 million in 2030, extrapolating at a CAGR of 5.4%. Factors such as the increasing prevalence of chronic disorders, higher adoption of advanced technologies, and the presence of a large geriatric population will aid in swiveling the market towards a higher volume.

Germany held the largest segmental growth within Europe, with the region occupying 18.9% in 2020 and will grow at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period. Factors such as rising demand for biopsies for cancer diagnosis and the presence of dominant market players will help in increasing the market’s footprint.

Numerous developing economies are located in the Asia-Pacific region, and surgical instrument technology is being quickly adopted there. Additionally, it is anticipated that market participants in this area will increase their R&D and investment activities, promoting the expansion of the surgical retractors market. The expansion of the surgical retractors market in the region is anticipated to be supported by the presence of affordable and well-developed healthcare infrastructure in countries like Japan, in addition to the ongoing advancements in India and China.

Segmental Analysis

Based on type, the market can be divided into handheld and self-retaining. In 2020, handheld retractors occupied the largest market share, with self-retaining retractors expecting to grow with the highest CAGR growth. Handheld retractors were estimated to gain a value of USD 871.7 million in 2020 and will grow at a CAGR of 5.5% to attain a value of USD 1,507.9 million by 2030. Factors such as the ability to assist surgeons and other medical professionals in holding tissue during procedures will maximize the value of the sub-segments growth.

Due primarily to their simplicity of use, self-retaining surgical retractors are anticipated to grow faster during the forecast period. It is not necessary to hold this retractor in place. As a result, less crowding is possible during surgery since a second assistant is not required. Numerous benefits, including a lower risk of infection, adequate exposure to the surgical site, and little need for assistance during the procedure, are anticipated to support segment growth.

Based on product, the market can be segmented across abdominal retractors, finger retractors, nerve retractors, orthopedic retractors, rectal retractors, thoracic retractors, ribbon retractors, and others. In 2020, abdominal retractors occupied the largest market share, with orthopedic retractors witnessing the fastest CAGR growth. Abdominal retractors occupied an estimated market value of USD 263.2 million in 2020 and are estimated to grow to a value of USD 400.17 million in 2030. It will grow at a CAGR of 5.2%, owing to its ability to hold or move organs from the surgical site with precise nature. For instance, a handheld Army-Navy retractor is used to retract superficial incisions during abdominal operations. For effective surgical procedures, industry participants like Medtronic, Medline Industries, and Thompson Surgical provide abdominal retractors. Abdominal blade options are available with Thomson Surgical's Thompson General/Vascular System for general abdominal and vascular procedures.

In thoracotomies and sternotomies, thoracic retractors provide visualization access to the surgical site. The number of open thoracic surgeries performed annually—roughly 2 million—increases the need for thoracic retractors. These retractors are used in other procedures besides thoracic surgery, like cardiovascular surgery. The Surtex Mercedes Thoracic Retractor by Surtex Instruments is used to retract the thorax during emergency procedures, cardiovascular surgeries, and mid-sternotomies to gain access to internal organs for successful surgeries.

Based on application, the market can be broken down into neurosurgery, wound closure, reconstructive surgery, cardiovascular, orthopedic, OB/GYN, and others. In 2020, OB/Gyn accounted for the largest market share, whereas neurosurgery will grow with the fastest growing CAGR growth. Preference for minimally invasive surgeries often led to few postoperative pains, triggering a shortened hospital visit. The rising number of cesarean surgeries will lead to obstetrics, and gynecology retractors will inflate market value for the segment.

Over the forecast period, the orthopedic segment is anticipated to experience a CAGR of ~5.4%. The segment's growth is anticipated to be boosted by the rising number of orthopedic patients. Every year, the orthopedic hospital Gelenk Klinik treats more than 24,000 patients. Two thousand four hundred surgical procedures are also carried out annually. The demand for orthopedic retractors is anticipated to increase with the number of orthopedic surgical procedures.

Based on end-users, the market can be shattered across hospitals, c surgical centers, and clinics. In 2020, hospitals dominated the market share in terms of perspective value, with ambulatory surgery centers accounting for the fastest growing CAGR growth. Hospitals accounted for an estimated value of USD 810.5 million in 2020 and will grow to a value of USD 1,436.2 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.5%. Factors such as increasing cases and preventive surgeries will contribute to segmental growth. The CDC reports 125.7 million outpatient department visits in the United States. Hospital surgical equipment demand has significantly increased due to surgical procedures like angioplasty, kidney and liver transplants, and trauma cases.

Ambulatory surgery centers will grow at a CAGR of ~6.3%. Better patient accessibility, lower facility costs, and lower out-of-pocket expenses can all be credited to the segment's growth.
 

Impact of covid-19

The ongoing pandemic impacted the global healthcare setting in terms of shortage of blood components, limiting in-patient visits, and canceling surgical procedures. Additionally, a limited workforce during the initial stages of the pandemic and a wide range of staffing issues led to the rising risk of viral transmissions intraoperatively, further leading to the shrinking of the surgical retractors market growth. Delays in surgical procedures limited the adoption rate of surgical retractors. However, as the tenure of the pandemic passed, surgeons across the world adopted new guidelines providing vital surgical procedures within their specific specialties. These factors are expected to pick up the market pace moderately. 

The dominant players in the global surgical retractors market also suffered economic backlash as they faced challenges during COVID-19. Decisions such as product development, product approvals, and regulatory obligations were affected, which led to declined production. This triggered lowered sales as projects were delayed. However, in order to keep up with the challenging market scenarios, players opted for undertaking executive schemes such as employee wellbeing, regulating resources on a global scale, and partnering with government agencies. 

Recent Developments

• In October 2022, The Medtronic Neurovascular Co-LabTM Platform was launched by Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT), a leader in healthcare technology, and is intended to speed up urgently required innovation in stroke care and treatment.
• In October 2022, the Combined Patient Monitoring and Respiratory Interventions businesses at Medtronic will be split up, the company has announced.
• In November 2022, A worldwide recall of the affected lots of the Gibeck® Iso-Gard® Filter products is now underway, according to Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE: TFX), a top provider of medical technologies for critical care and surgery. A bacterial and viral filter called the Gibeck® Iso-Gard® Filter is designed to be connected to respiratory equipment in operating rooms and intensive care units to shield the equipment from potential airborne contaminants.