Growing Surgery Volume behind Robust Advance of Surgical Sutures Market

Every year, 180,000 people die of burns, says the World Health Organization (WHO). Most of these deaths occur in low- and middle- income countries, where either the fire safety regulations aren’t strict enough or victims don’t always receive timely medical help. Burns leave nasty wounds, which need to be sown up to minimize blood loss, which is why sutures are so important. A suture is a simple needle-and-thread instrument, which is widely used during surgeries and accidental wound closure. Thus, with the increase in the number of burn cases and surgeries, the surgical sutures market is growing around the world. 

The WHO further estimates the number of surgeries being performed every year around the world at more than 280 million. Some surgeries are necessary, while others are done for aesthetic, cosmetic, or other purposes, which are elective in nature. Sutures are used in general surgeries, cardiovascular surgeries, orthopedic surgeries, gynecological surgeries, ophthalmic surgeries, and several other types of surgeries. Among them, their widest usage, historically, has been in general surgeries, which involves operating on the abdominal area. 

The body parts and organs worked upon during such procedures include the stomach, esophagus, large intestine, small intestine, pancreas, liver, appendix and bile ducts, gallbladder, skin, and thyroid gland. Cancer affects a lot of these organs, which makes general surgery a highly-sough-after medical service. The affected areas often need to be removed, wherein the surgery is known as ‘ectomy’, for instance appendectomy (removal of the appendix). Even in the future, the usage of sutures would grow the fastest in general surgeries, majorly because of the increasing preference for cosmetic procedures.

Another major reason behind the increasing surgery volume is the rise in the geriatric population. As per the 2019 World Population Ageing report published by the United Nations, people above the age of 65 would number 1.5 billion in 2050, compared to 703 million in 2019. Such people are not only physically weak, but also have diminished immune functions. After a while, their bones become too brittle and volume of subcutaneous tissue decreases. As a result of all these changes, the elderly keep hurting themselves and also fall sick more often, which results in frequent hospitalization and, often, surgeries.