Orthopedic Devices in India

Orthopedic devices (spelled orthopaedic in British English) are used to provide or restore stability by placing them within the body’s skeleton to correct for problems associated with bone and joints, from either injuries or deformities.

Major orthopedic device subcategories in India include:

• Joint fixation devices such as joint prostheses (knees, shoulder, elbow)
• Anterior and posterior spine devices such as total disc replacements, posterior screw systems and laminoplasty plates
• Restorative and repair devices such as bone void fillers
• Consumables such as bone cement, braces and belts
• Prosthetics such as artificial limbs
• Fracture fixation devices including bone plates and bone screws
• Arthroscopes
• Bone morphogenetic protein used for spinal fusion and fracture fixation

In India, 17 percent of the overall population suffers from ailments related to Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD). Knee pain due to osteoarthritis is the biggest in this category (14 percent) followed by lower back pain (8%). Prevalence is much higher in men compared to women. There are about 200,000 knee and hip replacements performed in India annually as of 2014, including perhaps 100,000 medical tourism procedures.

A number of foreign companies are present in India’s orthopedic device market including ArthroCare, B. Braun Melsungen, Biomet, ConMed, J&J’s DePuy Synthes, Medtronic, Otto Bock HealthCare, Smith & Nephew, Stryker, and Zimmer. Indian companies active in the orthopedic devices include Invicta Meditek Ltd of Chennai.