Cartilage Repair Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Treatment Modality (Cell-Based, Non-Cell-Based), By Application (Hyaline Cartilage, Fibrocartilage), By Treatment Type (Palliative, Intrinsic Repair Stimulus), By Site (Knee Cartilage Repair), And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global cartilage repair/regeneration market size was valued at USD 4.2 billion in 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period. Rising prevalence of bone and joint disorders, such as Osteoarthritis (OA) or arthritis, and technological advancements in cartilage regeneration are the key drivers expected to nurture market growth worldwide.

There is an increase in the prevalence of OA due to the growing geriatric population and increasing related factors such as obesity. This condition is a major cause of disability in the U.S. and had affected over 20.0 million Americans in 2012; this number is anticipated to reach 40.0 million over the next 10 years. Currently, the disease has affected over 30.0 million U.S. adults. Furthermore, over 12.0 million people suffer from knee pain and visit the doctors in the U.S. Furthermore, OA affects around 15.0 million Indians and arthritis affects around 10.0 million individuals in the UK every year, thereby driving this industry’s growth.

U.S. cartilage repair/regeneration market, by treatment modality, 2014 - 2025 (USD Billion)

Worldwide rising prevalence of diabetes and obesity is expected to govern the cartilage repair market growth over the forecast period. Diabetes results in increased cartilage loss. In addition, the increase in obese (overweight) population majorly in Latin America and the MEA region is expected to fuel the demand for cartilage repair products during the forecast period.

The American Heart Association (AHA) estimated the global geriatric population to account for approximately 20.0% of the total population by 2030, which is prone to develop chronic diseases and is anticipated to be a vital driver of the increase in cartilage repair procedures and is expected to bolster the market over the forecast period. 

A surge in the number of road accidents and sports-related injuries worldwide resulting in bone and joint injuries is anticipated to fuel the demand for cartilage repair products over the forecast period. As per data published by the World Health Organization (WHO in November 2016, approximately 1.25 million people die each year in road accidents worldwide.

Around 30.0 million children and adolescents participate in youth sports in the U.S. each year. This increase in sports activity increases incidents of injuries in athletes, which in turn propels the demand for repair products. According to research data by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, over 3.5 million athletes received medical treatment due to sports injuries each year. Also, sports and recreational activities accounted for around 21.0% of all traumatic brain injuries among American children, and 50.0% of head injuries sustained in recreational activities or sports happened during bicycling, skating, or skateboarding in 2015

Treatment Modality Insights

The key treatment modalities analyzed in this study are cell-based and non-cell-based. The cell-based segment dominated the industry in 2016 and is expected to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period. Increasing preference for autologous chondrocyte transplants for surgical treatment of damaged articular cartilage (chondral and osteochondral lesions) is anticipated to support the market growth.

The non-cell-based segment is further classified into tissue scaffolds and cell-free composites. Tissue scaffold can stimulate cartilage and bone growth when transplanted into the knees and other joints, thus they are used more extensively as compared to cell-free composite.

Application Insights

The application segment includes hyaline and fibro. The hyaline segment is expected to dominate this industry during the forecast period owing to rising incidents of physical trauma across the globe, which may cause osteochondral and chondral lesions in patients. For instance, as per the statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 199,800 people die from fatal injuries every year in the U.S.

The CDC reported that about 2.5 million individuals were hospitalized and 26.9 million patients were treated in an emergency department for nonfatal injuries in 2014. Also, over 33,700 people died in motor vehicle crashes (a major cause of death) and 2,791,000 geriatric patients as well as 325,000 kids were treated for fall injuries in the emergency rooms in the U.S. during the same year. This surge in fatal and nonfatal injuries is expected to support market growth over the forecast period.

The hyaline segment is also expected to be the fastest growing over the forecast period, due to the high susceptibility of damage to hyaline cartilage in case cartilage-related injuries. In addition, the surge in sports-related injuries results in articular cartilage defects of the knee & other joints, and this is expected to support the segment growth.

Treatment Type Insights

The treatment type is segmented into palliative and intrinsic repair stimulus. The intrinsic repair stimulus segment emerged as the largest segment in 2016 owing to the extensive use of the microfracture technique during cartilage repair surgeries. Intrinsic repair stimulus includes microfracture and drilling techniques that stimulate Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) to the site of injured cartilage to form repair tissue.

The palliative segment is further classified into viscosupplementation and debridement & lavage. Viscosupplement involves injecting hyaluronic acid into a joint to replace or supplement synovial fluid for the treatment of OA of the thumb, toe, or other small joints. The viscosupplementation segment is expected to gain market share over the forecast period owing to the increase in OA-induced pain coupled with rising demand for hyaline-like cartilage regeneration.

Global cartilage repair market, by application, 2016 (%)

Site Insights

The knee cartilage repair segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period due to its higher usage in repair procedures. The increasing prevalence of OA and rising incidents of accident injuries are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.

The other segment includes the hip, shoulder, finger, elbow, foot & ankle, and spine. This segment is expected to witness positive growth over the forecast period owing to the rising athletic population coupled with growing sports-related injuries.

Regional Insights

North America held around 50.0% share in the cartilage repair market in 2016, owing to the increasing prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases, presence of target population, and changing lifestyle of individuals in the U.S. and Canada. The rising prevalence of osteoporosis in the U.K., Germany, and France is expected to contribute significantly to the Europe market. As per a report by National Health Service (NHS), osteoporosis affects over 3.0 million people in the UK every year; and as per the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) estimates, 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men above the age of 50 years will break a bone as a result of osteoporosis every year.

International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reported about 109.6 million cases of diabetes in China. Also, nearly 7.2 million diabetes cases were reported in Japan, and 1 million cases in Australia. Asia Pacific region is anticipated to exhibit a comparatively higher CAGR over the forecast period, as compared to other regions.

In addition, increasing prevalence of osteoporosis in Australia and New Zealand is resulting in increased incidents of cartilage damage, which is anticipated to nurture the growth of this vertical. According to the Osteoporosis Australia estimates, osteoporosis is a common disease affecting over 1.0 million Australians; and as per statistics provided by the Burden of Osteoporosis in New Zealand (BONZ), the number of fractures caused from osteoporosis at different sites in the skeleton was 84,000 cases in 2007, which is anticipated to reach 116,000 by 2020.

Cartilage Repair Market Share Insights

Some of the major players competing in this space include Zimmer Biomet; Stryker Corporation; DePuy Synthes; Smith & Nephew plc; Vericel Corporation; Osiris Therapeutics Inc.; B. Braun Melsungen AG; Anika Therapeutics, Inc.; Arthrex, Inc.; and Collagen Solutions Plc. These players are focused on growth strategies such as new product launch, acquisition & merger, and regional expansions.

For instance, in February 2012, Zimmer Biomet launched ChondrofixOsteochondral Allograft for early intervention treatment of cartilage lesions in the U.S. 

Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth and provides an analysis on the latest trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research, Inc. has segmented the global cartilage repair market on the basis of treatment modality, application, treatment type, site, and region:

• Treatment Modality Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Cell-Based

    • Chondrocyte Transplantation

    • Growth Factor Technology

  • Non-Cell-Based

    • Tissue Scaffolds

    • Cell-Free Composites

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Hyaline

  • Fibrocartilage

• Treatment Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Palliative

    • Viscosupplementation

    • Debridement & Lavage

  • Intrinsic Repair Stimulus

• Site Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Knee Cartilage Repair

    • Arthroscopic Chondroplasty

    • Autologous Chondrocyte

    • Osteochondral Grafts Transplantation

    • Cell-based Cartilage Resurfacing

    • Microfracture

    • Other

  • Other

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • The U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • The U.K.

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

  • The Middle East and Africa (MEA)

    • South Africa