Surgical Retractors Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2025 - 2032)

Surgical Retractors Market Trends & Growth Drivers

Growing Surgery Count Is Biggest Market Driver

• The key driver for the surgical retractors market is the increasing count of surgeries, and the reasons for it are plenty.
• As per studies, more than 312 million surgeries are conducted around the world each year, with the number escalating with time.
• The biggest is the surge in the incidence of chronic diseases, especially those of the heart, bones & muscles, lungs, nerves, and spinal cord, & brain, as well as cancer.
• Another key reason for the rise in the surgery count is the growth in the rate of road accidents.
• They kill 1.3 million people and injure up to 50 million each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Accidents lead to severe injuries, including severed arms & limbs, broken bones, and sliced blood vessels.
•  To repair these issues, immediate surgeries are often the only choice, which is a key factor for market growth.
• The rate of elective surgeries is also going up, as people are now aware of their benefits and have more money to spend.
• A prominent elective surgery rapidly becoming common is Cesarean section, with the WHO estimating global volumes to rise from 21% of all live births in 2021 to 29% of all live births by decade-end.
• The trend of elective surgeries is also visible in cosmetics & cosmetics because of the rising appearance consciousness of people across the globe.
• This need is driven by the influence of the Western culture and the social media lifestyle.
• According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), 15,813,353 cosmetic surgeries were performed worldwide in 2023, compared to 14,986,982 in 2022, and 11,363,569 in 2019, before the pandemic hit.

Rising Preference for Minimally Invasive Procedures Hampers Market Growth

• The growth of the market is restrained by the increasing popularity of minimally invasive surgeries (MIS).
• These procedures are short and less costly, along with leading to smaller incisions, fewer complications, less pain & discomfort, and faster recoveries.
• Owing to all these advantages, people, especially concerned about their appearance, are preferring them over conventional, open operations.
• Moreover, these procedures are more accessible as they can be conducted at ASCs, thus reducing the waiting time associated with proper hospitals.
• Since these procedures are often conducted robots using catheters and other specialized instruments, they do not require retractors and other devices used in open surgeries.
• This might require medical device companies to offer specially designed retractors for these procedures, which may be expensive initially, thus out of reach of many surgeons in the developing world.

Surgical Retractors Market Analysis

Type Insights

The handheld bifurcation is the larger, with a revenue share of 65% in 2024. This is because handheld retractors were the first to be widely available and in different designs and configurations for various surgeries and body parts. They are also less expensive than self-retaining ones, which drives their usage around the world, especially in emerging economies and medical centers with smaller budgets.

The self-retaining category is expected to record the fastest growth during the forecast period. With the rise in preference for minimally invasive surgeries, the demand for self-retaining retractors is increasing. Also, these retractors ensure hygiene and cleanliness during operations and are used to perform complex surgeries, such as spinal tumor surgeries. By using self-retaining retractors, surgeons can perform operations efficiently and retain tissues without the use of hands, and can avoid pressure on the spinal cord.

These types are covered in the report:

• Handheld (Larger Category)
• Self-Retaining (Faster-Growing Category)

Product Insights

The orthopedic retractor category is the largest, and it will witness the fastest growth during the forecast period, with 7% CAGR. This can be ascribed to the increasing number of orthopedic surgeries, including ankle fractures, knee replacement surgeries, and arthritis-related problems, which are common conditions in the older population. The affordability and accessibility of surgical treatments have improved over time, which has resulted in a large number of surgical procedures involving orthopedic surgical retractors. Moreover, the demand for cutting-edge surgical equipment, such as surgical retractors, has increased as a result of the high incidence of MSK ailments in muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs.

Furthermore, abdominal retractors are the second-largest revenue generator in the surgical retractors market outlook. In abdominal surgeries, different types of abdominal retractors are used to perform operations with hygiene and ensure hand-free operations. Leading players like Medtronic offer various retractors such as the RadiaLux lighted retractor, which is a one-time-use retractor that enables surgeons to work with soft tissue using a combination of blades when mounted into a retractor handle and used for open abdominal surgeries.

The abdominal category is significant due to the high volume of surgeries conducted in the abdomen. As a result, a range of handheld, laparoscopic, and self-retaining retractors are available for abdominal surgeries. The count of abdominal operations, such as appendectomies, bowel resections, cholecystectomies, pelvic procedures, and C-sections continue to rise.

Moreover, as per the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients of the U.S., 9,527 liver transplants were performed in the country in 2022, compared to 9,234 in 2021. Similarly, the United Network for Organ Sharing estimates the number of kidney transplants in the U.S. at 25,500 in 2022 and 27,332 in 2023. Since both these organs are located in the abdomen, the rising count of these procedures will continue to propel the market in this category.

The report offers insights into the following products:

• Abdominal Retractors
• Finger Retractors
• Nerve Retractors
• Orthopedic Retractors (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
• Rectal Retractors
• Thoracic Retractors
• Ribbon Retractors
• Others

Application Insights

The obstetrics/gynecology surgery category is expected to grow with fastest CAGR, of 6.5%, during the forecast period. Obstetrics focuses on childbirth and pregnancy, while gynecology is a larger field that covers all conditions affecting the female reproductive systems. Cervical cerclage and episiotomy are two common surgical operations covering reproductive organs. The minimally invasive gynecology surgeries result in shorter hospital stays and can help in reducing postoperative discomfort after operations. Surgical instruments such as retractors, laparoscopes, and hysteroscopes are used during these operations. In addition, more cesarean operations are expected to lead to the rise in the use of obstetrics and gynecology retractors.

Cardiovascular is also growing because of the rising incidence of heart diseases. The most-common heart surgery is coronary artery bypass graft, 200,000 of which are performed in the U.S. and 62 per 100,000 people in Western Europe, as per the NIH. Other common heart surgeries are aortic valve replacement, open-heart surgeries, transplants, aneurysm repairs, septal myectomy, and pacemaker/ICD implantation. With heart diseases killing almost 18 million each year, the count of these procedures continues to increase.

We have studied the below-mentioned applications:

• Neurosurgery
• Wound Closure
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Orthopedic Surgery (Largest Category)
• Obstetrics/Gynecology Surgery (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Others

End User Insights

The hospitals category is the largest, majorly on account of the high volume of patients and preventive procedures carried out in these healthcare facilities. As per the data, the U.S. records 130 million annual visits to the emergency department. The need for surgical equipment in hospitals has grown dramatically, as a result of an increase in surgical operations like angioplasty and kidney and liver transplants as well as a surge in trauma cases. Non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are becoming more prevalent, owing to the aging population, bad lifestyle choices, and high smoking and alcohol usage. These factors are driving the surgical retractors market growth in this category.

ACSs will have the highest CAGR in the market over this decade, of 7.5%. This is due to the better patient accessibility and lower out-of-pocket expenses on healthcare. The development of ASCs has been primarily driven by the rise in patient choice for having tests performed in affordable medical settings. Also, low-cost treatment facilitates larger sections of the population to have access to medical services.

These end users were part of our study:

• Hospitals (Largest Category)
• Ambulatory Surgery Centers (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Clinics

Regional Analysis

• North America accounts for the largest share, of 40%, in the surgical retractors market in 2024.
• This is attributed to the higher prevalence of chronic diseases with the fast-paced lifestyles, rise in the geriatric population, and technological advancements in the healthcare sector, in the region.
• Additionally, the need for home healthcare services is increasing for the growing older population in the U.S.
• According to official statistics, there are more than 55 million persons in the country who are 65 years or older, and by 2060, this figure will rise to 90 million. As a result, the American government is spending huge money on the health of elderly people.
• In March 2021, the government suggested the spending of USD 400 billion over eight years on community and home services.
• Canada is focusing on the development of healthcare infrastructure in order to cater to expanding healthcare needs.
• The majority of surgeries conducted in Canada include cesarean-section deliveries and hip and knee replacement surgeries, among others, which require a large number of surgical retractors.
• Moreover, over the years, a number of significant market participants have increased their focus on rolling out new versions and improving their product line in order to enhance their position in the market.
• Europe is the second-largest market for surgical retractors, owing to the rise in investments by leading players in the industry, increase in the number of surgeries, and several measures adopted by governments to enhance healthcare quality, in the region.
• In addition, Germany is the major contributor to the regional market.
• This is ascribed to the rise in the need for biopsies for the diagnosis of cancer, the presence of a large number of market participants, and the widespread use of cutting-edge technologies, in the country.
• Furthermore, France is the second-largest shareholder in the European market.
• This is attributed to the rising number of cases of chronic diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes, every year, in the country.
• Surgical procedures are becoming more popular with the rise in such cases, and hence the requirement for surgical retractors is increasing.
• APAC is the fastest-growing market, owing to the presence of the most populous countries in the region, which results in a large number of performed surgeries.
• Surgical retractors are basically used in neuro, wound closure, reconstructive, cardiovascular, and other surgeries.
• For instance, heart and lung conditions are among the leading health issues in India, causing millions of deaths each year.
• The nation anticipates a high demand for surgical procedures that can treat various ailments.
• Thus, it is expected that the demand for surgical retractors in the country will increase at a high rate because of the surging need for surgical treatments.

The regional breakdown of the market is as follows:

• North America (Largest Regional Market)
  • U.S. (Larger Country Market)
  • Canada (Faster-Growing Country Market)
• Europe
  • Germany (Largest Country Market)
  • France
  • U.K.
  • Spain (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Italy
• Asia-Pacific (APAC) (Fastest-Growing Reginal Market)
  • China (Largest Country Market)
  • Japan
  • India (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Australia
  • South Korea
  • Rest of APAC
• Latin America (LATAM)
  • Brazil (Largest Country Market)
  • Mexico (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Rest of LATAM
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • South Africa (Largest Country Market)
  • Saudi Arabia (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Rest of MEA

Surgical Retractors Market Share

The market is fragmented with the presence of many players. A variety of such instruments are available for different kinds of surgeries, with companies often specializing in a few applications. Additionally, these devices have been in usage for a long time, and companies completely understand the compliance requirements. The regulatory guidelines also vary by country, allowing smaller companies to prosper in emerging economies. Further, new surgical technologies require modified and, often, customized retractors, thus offering potential business to newer companies.

Surgical Retractors Market News

• In September 2024, Terumo Corporation rebranded its neurosurgery product subsidiary, MicroVention Inc., as Terumo Neuro.
• In September 2024, Johnson & Johnson announced that three of its subsidiaries— Ethicon, Biosense Webster, and DePuy Synthes—will be co-branded as Johnson & Johnson MedTech.
• In April 2024, The Cooper Companies Inc. acquired obp Surgical for USD 100 million. The acquired company offers disposable cordless surgical retractors and single-use surgical suction devices.
• In September 2023, Globus Medical Inc. merged with NuVasive Inc. to offer a greater range of devices for musculoskeletal procedures.