New biological techniques might be able to speed recovery and shorten hospital stays for patients undergoing the 100,000-plus surgical procedures performed each day in the United States, says a new report.
The report, from life science market research publisher Kalorama Information, suggests that the treatment of surgical wounds could be an ideal “recession proof” industry.
According to “Wound Care Markets, 4th Edition, Vol. III: Surgical and Trauma Wounds,” the worldwide surgical and trauma wound care market reached revenues of $5.9 billion in 2009, increasing 6.5 percent annually since 2003.
Kalorama forecasts overall growth to continue at 4.8 percent through 2013 despite the recession, spurred mainly by the biological dressing segment. This segment includes artificial skin, collagen and growth factors which, combined, enjoyed a healthy 11.3 percent annual growth rate from 2003 to 2008 and are forecast to continue at 8.5 percent annually through 2013.
With their ability to speed the healing process and improve patient care, biological dressings help shorten hospital stays and thus reduce costs.
“Wound treatment is a classic recession proof industry,” said Bruce Carlson, Kalorama's publisher. “That being said, the lagging economy will have some impact, slowing growth in more traditional wound care treatments, while biological dressings will enjoy downright impressive growth due to their ability to shorten hospital stays. Any product that can reduce hospital costs will always find a market.”
Carlson said new wound care products and devices are entering the market at “lightning speed,” all striving for the best clinical outcomes. He thinks the emerging generation of wound care products and technologies are well-positioned to capitalize on the growing market.
Newer technologies in treatment include the xenogeneic tissue scaffold, bilayered human dermal substitutes, recombinant growth factors, endoscopic subfascial ligation of venous perforators and endovascular arterial repair techniques.