Sabyasachi Ghosh and Sharvari Rale, of Future Market Insights (FMI), considers the innovations that could disrupt the orthopaedic prosthetics space and sheds light upon the progress of upper limb prosthetics
The field of orthopaedics has been witnessing multiple breakthrough innovations recently, and prostheses particularly continue to converge with myriads of state-of-the-art technologies, which signals the influx of some promising outcomes on the horizon of orthopaedics.
Some quick facts
- Orthopaedic health issues constitute the most common reason to seek expert medical care, globally.
- Besides diabetes and osteoarthritis, osteomalacia, hyperparathyroidism, ricketing, Paget’s bone disease, osteoporosis, osteopenia, and incomplete osteogénesis are some of the key ailments causing various upper limb conditions.
- On an average, more than seven million patients undergo hospitalisation (annually) for their orthopaedic conditions, in the US alone.
- One out of seven Americans registers at least one orthopaedic impairment.
- More than one million limb amputations are registered globally, each year, a majority of which are related to upper extremities.
WMSDs and sports injuries fuel upper limb prosthetics
Accidental injuries and trauma continue to rank top when it comes to reviewing the causes of upper and lower limb amputations, whereas diabetes remains among the major risk factors associated with limb amputations. Lower backache has become one of the most frequently reported orthopaedic ailments, following knee and hip joint pain. While these conditions typically tend to appear with age, limb injuries and amputations also constitute a significant factor demanding critical attention.
Upper limb conditions are particularly referred to as WMSDs (work-related musculoskeletal disorders), besides those that have been the result of road accidents or lifestyle diseases. Sports injuries also remain a notable cause of upper limb disorders and/or impairment.
Prosthetic wrist in demand, US ranks top
Of the total orthopaedic prosthetics industry, upper extremities hold more than a 15 per cent share, which could grow at an impressive pace in the near future. Upper limb prosthetics currently represent a young market that valuates just about USD 300 million. However, the growth potential is massive, with increasing acceptance of upper limb prosthetic devices among amputees, all over the globe.
More than 25 per cent of the upper limb prosthetics that were sold in 2018 were wrists, followed by elbows and shoulders. An alarming rise in the number of wrist amputations offers a boost to sales of the prosthetic wrist, which is further complemented by its lightweight, cosmetically pleasing design, and easy wearability. The relatively affordable cost of a prosthetic wrist continues to be an important factor as well. Prosthetic arms, however, currently hold a negligible share in the market, and they are most likely to observe an upward trend in demand, at an average 6 per cent rate through the next decade. Shoulder disarticulation remains among the most common sports injuries, further indicating a potential opportunity for prosthetic shoulders.
While the global sales of upper limb prosthetics are set to surpass a value of USD 345 million this year, more than 35 per cent would be accounted by the US. Europe is also an important market for manufacturing companies in this space. However, sales in Asian markets will ramp up at an average 6 per cent over the following years. The rate of prevalence of orthopaedic ailments remains highest in the US, but is showcasing dramatic increase across developing Asian countries, over the past few years. This is translating into greater demand for orthopaedic prosthetic implants across Asia, especially for upper limbs.
3D printing – A silver bullet to cover customisation and costs
Solid entry of next-generation technologies in surgical space, coupled with adoption of the most relevant personalised approach towards healthcare delivery, is carving out the future of orthopaedic surgery. Customised prosthetics have therefore gathered traction over the past decade. Tailored orthopaedic prosthetic devices constitute a recent innovation in the industry and a product of pre-operative 3D imaging software. They allow for fabrication of tailor-made prosthetics based on the functionality and anatomy of an individual patient.
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