A disposable surgical device is any medical apparatus that is intended to be used only once or for a short period of time. Disposable devices are manufactured by medical and surgical device manufacturers all over the world. Hypodermic needles, syringes, applicators, bandages and wraps, drug tests, exam gowns, face masks, gloves, suction catheters, and surgical sponges are some examples. Infection control is the primary reason for developing disposable surgical devices. When an item is only used once, it cannot spread infectious agents to subsequent patients. Although cost is the most important consideration in the design of single-use products, disposable medical devices necessitate a careful balance of performance, cost, reliability, materials, and shelf life.

Market Trend

Big calls for "Reusability" of disposable surgical devices 

Reusable medical devices, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), are those that healthcare providers can reprocess and reuse on multiple patients. Surgical forceps, endoscopes, and stethoscopes are examples of reusable medical devices. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 20-30% of US hospitals reuse at least one type of single-use device. The re-used single-use device must meet the same regulatory requirements as the device when it was first manufactured. Reusable single-use medical devices can help to alleviate medical supply shortages. It is estimated that approximately 35% of nurses faced daily medical supply shortages. Furthermore, research gathered by DTR Medical's clinical consultation reveals that the average cost of repair for an instrument is US$59, but single-use instruments exclude this cost. Disposing of instruments after one use may appear to be a waste of resources, but when weighed against the costs and energy required reprocessing reusable products, it is not.

Market Dynamics

Rising number of surgical procedures is one of the top impacting factors responsible for the growth of global disposable surgical devices

According to the Aesthetic Society, aesthetics plastic surgery remained popular even during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to ANN, the total revenue spent on aesthetic plastic surgery in 2020 will be more than US$9 Bn. Furthermore, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) reported that over 17.7 million surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States in 2018, a figure that has steadily increased over the last five years. In addition, over 1.8 million cosmetic surgical procedures were performed in 2018. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, one in every four (24%) hospitalizations in 2017-18 involved surgery (2.7 million). Such enabling factors increase the demand for sterile, disposable surgical technologies. With the increased demand for sterile surgical platforms, it is worthwhile to investigate the extent to which the package implants and instruments are validated.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) bolster the demand for global disposable medical devices market

Surgical site infections have contributed to an increase in the cost of single-use medical devices due to mortality and morbidity associated with surgical operations performed globally. Furthermore, surgical site infections account for 20-25% of all nosocomial infections globally. Surgical site infection rates have been reported to range from 2.5 to 41.9% worldwide. According to DTR statistics, approximately 2-5% of the 16 million patients who undergo surgical procedures each year have postoperative surgical site infections. Such factors increase the demand for disposable medical devices, thereby contributing to the global market's growth. There is a correlation between the complexity of disposables and the difficulty of sterilization. Single-use devices are not intended to be decontaminated. 

COVID-19 has positive influence on the growth of global disposable surgical devices

The desire to reduce the risk factors associated with Covid-19 in hospitals as well as the possibility of bacterial co-infections is driving up demand for pre-sterilized surgical technologies in healthcare facilities. Much of what was once standard operating procedure in the healthcare sector has had to be completely reimagined. This has prompted the adoption of new tools in a variety of areas of the life sciences industry. With increased focus on pathogens and the timeliness of surgical site infections caused by Covid-19 co-infections, innovative single-use technologies for complex surgical procedures are becoming more widely used at many centres. During the pandemic, this trend was most visible in the number of major medical device companies that quickly adopted the single-use model. 

Market Segmentation

The global disposable surgical devices market is segmented based on product and application. Product is segmented as surgical sutures & staplers, handheld surgical devices, and electrosurgical devices. By application, the market is segmented as neurosurgery, plastic & reconstructive surgery, wound closure, obstetrics & gynecology, cardiovascular, orthopedic, general surgery, and others

Surgical sutures are expected to dominate the market by product during the forecast period. Surgical sutures are threads that are used to close incisions or repair cuts after surgery or in the treatment of an injury. Surgical staplers, which are more precise than sutures, are also used for wound closure. Surgical stapling is a faster process. Furthermore, when compared to sutures, staples pose a lower risk of infection. Sutures are the traditional method of wound closure; however, the risk of wound reopening with sutures is lower than with staples. Various market players' increasing development of disposable sutures and staplers is also expected to contribute to segmental growth. In terms of application, general surgery will account for the largest share of the market in the coming years. One of the major factors contributing to the eventual growth of the global disposable surgical devices market is the increasing number of general surgeries.

Regional Overview

North America is expected to dominate the market in the coming years. This is due to an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and neurological diseases, cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, the increasing number of surgical procedures performed as a result of accidents, burns, and trauma cases is one of the most important factors influencing the global disposable surgical device market. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is expected to have the fastest growing CAGR in the coming years. One of the key factors driving the growth of the global disposable surgical devices market is the presence of a large patient pool in this region.

Competitive Landscape

The prominent players involved in the global disposable surgical devices market are B. Braun, Smith & Nephew plc, Aspen Surgical, Alcon, Zimmer Biomet, Medtronic plc, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Ethicon, Inc., CooperSurgical, Inc., Surgical Innovations, and among others

Market Segmentation

Market By Product

Surgical Sutures & Staplers
Handheld Surgical Devices
Electrosurgical Devices

Market By Application

Neurosurgery
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Wound Closure
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Cardiovascular
Orthopedic
General Surgery
Others

Market By Geography

North America
•    U.S.
•    Canada

Europe
•    U.K.
•    Germany
•    France
•    Spain
•    Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific
•    China
•    Japan
•    India
•    Australia
•    South Korea
•    Rest of Asia-Pacific

Latin America
•    Brazil 
•    Mexico
•    Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa
•    GCC
•    South Africa
•    Rest of Middle East & Africa