The effect of incisional negative pressure wound therapy on the improvement of postoperative cosmetic suture wounds and scar hyperplasia

This study aimed to explore the effects of early incisional negative pressure wound therapy (INPWT) on cosmetic suture wounds and postoperative scar hyperplasia. We retrospectively evaluated 120 patients who underwent abdominoperineal resection at the Changhai Hospital between February 2018 and October 2021 and divided them into two groups according to their treatment: the INPWT group (n = 60) and the control group (n = 60). The quality of post-surgical wound healing in the two groups was evaluated. The Patient Scar Assessment Scale (PSAS), the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to evaluate the surgical incision scar at 1-year follow-up. At this follow-up visit, 115 patients underwent reexamination; five patients were lost to follow-up, including two patients in the INPWT group and three patients in the control group. The INPWT group showed better wound healing than the control group (P < .05). The proportion of patients who received INPWT was significantly higher in the non-surgical site infection (SSI) group than in the SSI group (P < .05). The PSAS, VSS and VAS scores were significantly improved in the INPWT group compared with those in the control group (P < .05). Our results show that INPWT improved the quality of cosmetic suture wounds and reduced the degree of postoperative scar hyperplasia.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of early incisional negative pressure wound therapy (INPWT) on cosmetic suture wounds and postoperative scar hyperplasia. A total of 120 patients who underwent abdominoperineal resection were retrospectively evaluated and divided into an INPWT group and a control group. The INPWT group showed better wound healing, a higher proportion of patients with non-surgical site infection, and significantly improved scar assessment scores compared to the control group. The findings suggest that INPWT can improve the quality of cosmetic suture wounds and reduce postoperative scar hyperplasia.