Surgical Retractors Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Handheld, Self-retaining), By Product, By Application, By End-use (Hospitals, ASCs, Clinics), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview

The global surgical retractors market size was valued at USD 1.6 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2021 to 2028. Steep rise in procedural volume with rising prevalence of chronic diseases, increasing adoption of minimally invasive surgeries, and high R&D focus by major market players are some of the factors driving the market.

According to the World Federation of Neurology, 12.0% of the total neurology patients succumb to these conditions each year. In addition, according to the WHO, the number of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost as a result of neurological diseases is anticipated to increase from 95 million in 2015 to 103 million in 2030 across the globe. Surgical procedures are one of the major treatment options for neurological problems. An increasing number of neurological surgeries and the high demand for surgical retractors specially designed for these procedures are expected to drive the market.

Delayed or canceled electric surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic and strict guidelines for life-saving surgeries significantly reduced the demand for surgical retractors. Patient footfall for non-COVID-19 conditions showed a steep decline because of the risks of infections. The surgeries also included transplantation procedures that mandatorily involve the usage of surgical retractors. The number of transplantation procedures fell to around 50% during the first wave of COViD-19.

As per the WHO, globally, 17.9 million people die of cardiovascular disorders each year. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is a common treatment solution for blocked coronary arteries. B. Braun and Medtronic plc. offer a wide range of surgical tools required in all types of cardiovascular surgery. According to CDC (2017), in the U.S., 15% of the population suffers from chronic kidney disease. Therefore, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases is expected to drive the need for surgical treatment, which in turn is expected to boost the demand for surgical retractors.

Several manufacturers are focusing on developing technologically advanced surgical retractors to maintain a strong market presence. For instance, in 2019, Thompson Surgical developed a table-mounted hip retraction system. It uses flexible tethers to secure retractor blades in place and decreases the staff needed to hold the retractor. Also, in October 2020, June Medical announced a product launch under Galaxy II retractor series, which was specifically designed for the male anatomy. It comes with an innovative penile hammock that can lower the need for sharp hook penetration, improve recovery, and reduce infection risk.

Type Insights

The handheld retractors segment dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 53.9% in 2020. Handheld retractors primarily assist in maintaining the desired position of a given tissue area. It requires the assistance of a surgeon or other medical professional to hold the tissue during the procedure, thus, restricting the surgeon’s free usage of hands. Various types of retractors are available for use based on the type of surgical procedure being performed. Some of the common retractors are abdominal, finger, nerve, orthopedic, rectal, thoracic, and ribbon retractors.

Self-retaining surgical retractors are expected to experience the fastest growth during the forecast period, owing primarily to their ease of use. These retractors do not require assistance to hold them in place. This, in turn, permits surgery to be conducted without second assistance, thus, allowing less crowding. Various advantages such as the decreased risk of infection, adequate exposure to the surgical site, and low assistance requirement during the process, are expected to contribute to segment growth.

Product Insights

The orthopedic retractors dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 18.1% in 2020. Orthopedic retractors are used to protect the surgical incision and gain access to surgical sites during various surgeries by handling arteries, veins, tendons, and other tissues covering the site. Alexis orthopedic protector/retractor by Applied Medical Resources helps protect fat, muscles, skin, and nerves from contact with sharp devices used during wound surgeries. Similarly, the hip tether system by Thompson Surgical is used by orthopedic surgeons during hip replacement.

The abdominal retractor segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate of 5.2% over the forecast period. Different types of abdominal retractors are used for various applications for enhanced surgical procedures. For instance, an Army-Navy handheld retractor is used to retract superficial incisions during abdominal operations. Market players such as Medtronic, Medline Industries, and Thompson Surgical offer abdominal retractors for efficient surgical procedures. Thompson General/Vascular System by Thomson Surgical offers options in abdominal blades for general abdominal and vascular procedures.

Thoracic retractors are used in surgeries such as thoracotomy and sternotomy to provide visualization access to the surgical site. Around 2 million open thoracic surgeries are performed worldwide each year, increasing the demand for thoracic retractors. Apart from thoracic surgeries, these retractors are used for various other applications, such as cardiovascular surgery. Surtex Mercedes Thoracic Retractor by Surtex Instruments is used for retracting thorax during mid-sternotomy, cardiovascular surgeries, and during emergency procedures to gain access to internal organs for efficient surgeries.

Application Insights

The Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) segment dominated the surgical retractors market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 24.3% in 2020. Some of the common surgical procedures involving female reproductive organs include cervical cerclage and episiotomy. Minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries can lead to fewer problems such as postoperative pain, thus, resulting in shorter hospital stays.

The orthopedic segment is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.4% over the forecast period. The growing number of orthopedic patients is expected to boost segment growth. As per Gelenk Klinik orthopedic hospital, more than 24,000 patients are treated every year. In addition, 2,400 surgical procedures are performed every year. This growing number of orthopedic surgical procedures is expected to drive the need for orthopedic retractors.

End-use Insights

The hospitals segment dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of50.1% in 2020. The growth is owing to large number of cases and preventive surgeries being performed in these end-use settings. According to CDC, 125.7 million outpatient department visits were recorded in the U.S. With increase in the number of surgical procedures, such as angioplasty and kidney and liver transplants, and growing incidence of trauma, the demand for surgical equipment has significantly increased in hospitals.

Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) are anticipated to register the highest growth rate over the forecast period. This can be attributed to lower out-of-pocket costs, better patient accessibility, and decreased facility costs.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 30.6% in 2020. The region is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period. This growth can mainly be attributed to the increasing number of preventive surgeries and the growing burden of chronic disorders, such as cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases, increasing adoption of technologically advanced devices, and rising preference for minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Europe accounted for the second-largest market share in 2020. The region is anticipated to show a lucrative growth rate during the forecast period. The growth can be attributed to various factors such as the rising prevalence of chronic disorders, high adoption of advanced technologies, presence of a large geriatric population, increasing reimbursement for surgical procedures, and growing demand for minimally invasive procedures over traditional methods. Furthermore, the presence of stainless steel retractor manufacturers in Germany is also expected to fuel market growth. For instance, MPM Medical Supply is a global medical distributor, which operates completely from Germany and has been offering high-quality stainless steel retractors manufactured in the country across the globe since the 1600s.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is fragmented with high competition at global as well local level. Availability of raw materials and advanced manufacturing technology are some of the major factors deciding final product prices. Product differentiation and price are two major factors deciding the purchase decisions in developing countries where reimbursements and insurances are mostly provided by private companies. Strategic partnerships with local distributors and region-based product variations are some of the initiatives adopted by global players.

Market entry barriers are low to medium. New market players are entering the market with organ-specific customized retractors. Integration of existing designs with advanced technology is expected to help in replacing traditional retractors. Lighted retractor is among the latest examples of such integration and is expected to rapidly create significant space during upcoming years. Some of the prominent players in the surgical retractors market include:

• Medtronic

• Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD)

• Medical Devices Business Services, Inc.

• Teleflex Incorporated

• Medline Industries, Inc.

• B. Braun Melsungen AG

• Applied Medical Resources Corporation

• Thompson Surgical

• Innomed, Inc.

• LiNA Medical ApS

• Vivo Surgical Private Limited

• BVI

• CooperSurgical Inc.

• Stryker

• Terumo Corporation

• June Medical Group

• Mediflex Surgical Products

• Chamfond Biotech Co., Ltd

• Applied Medical Technology, Inc. (AMT)

• Microcure (Suzhou) Medical Technology Co., Ltd.

• Changzhou Haiers Medical Devices Co., Ltd

• Boston Scientific Corporation

• Coloplast

Surgical Retractors Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global surgical retractors market report on the basis of type, product, application, end-use, and region: 

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Handheld

  • Self-retaining

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Abdominal retractor

  • Finger retractor

  • Nerve Retractor

  • Orthopedic Retractor

  • Rectal Retractor

  • Thoracic retractor

  • Ribbon retractor

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Neurosurgery

  • Wound closure

  • Reconstructive surgery

  • Cardiovascular

  • Orthopedic

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn)

  • Others

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Hospitals

  • Ambulatory Surgical Centers

  • Clinics

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Norway

    • Sweden

    • Russia

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • Australia

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

    • Colombia

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • Turkey

    • Qatar

    • UAE