Risk factors associated with surgical site infection following orthopaedic surgery in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol.

Objective: The objective of the scoping review will be to understand and describe risk factors associated with surgical site infection (SSI) in an orthopaedic surgery population in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa. This paper describes the protocol that will be used for the scoping review.

Method: A comprehensive literature search will be conducted using MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL (EBSCO), Embase and Cochrane Libraries to identify articles meeting the inclusion criteria, including both published and grey literature, in order to provide a broad overview of the reported risk factors associated with patients who have undergone an orthopaedic surgery with an outcome of SSI within 90 days of a procedure.

A single-centre RetrospeCtive sTudy Investigating patient-reported outcomeS of extended dressing wear time for incisional healing following orthopaedic surgery: the ARCTIS study.

Objective: Orthopaedic surgery is an effective intervention for treating the symptoms of degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis (OA). Frequent wound dressing changes, unless clinically indicated, can disrupt the healing process and increase the occurrence of incision site contamination. Protection from contamination is critical for surgical incisions and, therefore, undisturbed wound healing (UWH) in surgical wound management is vital.

Incidence of wound dehiscence in patients undergoing laparoscopy or laparotomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Surgical wound dehiscence (SWD) is a serious complication-with a 40% estimated mortality rate-that occurs after surgical intervention. Since the implementation of advanced recovery protocols, the current global incidence of SWD is unknown. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the worldwide incidence of SWD and explored its associated factors in general surgical patients.

Clinical prediction models and risk tools for early detection of patients at risk of surgical site infection and surgical wound dehiscence: a scoping review.

Objective: Despite advances in surgical techniques, intraoperative practice and a plethora of advanced wound therapies, surgical wound complications (SWCs), such as surgical site infection (SSI) and surgical wound dehiscence (SWD), continue to pose a considerable burden to the patient and healthcare setting. Predicting those patients at risk of a SWC may give patients and healthcare providers the opportunity to implement a tailored prevention plan or potentially ameliorate known risk factors to improve patient postoperative outcomes.

Method: A scoping review of the literature for studies which reported predictive power and internal/external validity of risk tools for clinical use in predicting patients at risk of SWCs after surgery was conducted.

A non-randomised pragmatic trial for the early detection and prevention of surgical wound complications using an advanced hydropolymer wound dressing and smartphone technology: The EDISON trial protocol.

Total hip or knee arthroplasty is a highly effective intervention for treating the symptoms of degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis (OA), often an unwelcome consequence of obesity. A safe and common surgical procedure, hip and knee arthroplasty procedures are not immune to the occurrence of postoperative complications such as surgical site infection (SSI) or surgical wound dehiscence (SWD). While published rates of SSI following hip or knee arthroplasty are low, 1% to 2% in some cases, it is the resulting wound complication and its clinical management and the impact on patient well-being and return to daily life for the 1% to 2% that is of concern.

Bid from the International Surgical Wound Complications Advisory Panel.

The International Surgical Wound Complications Advisory Panel sets out its bid for the WUWHS 2026 Congress to be held in Perth, Western Australia.

An advanced transparent hydropolymer wound dressing for undisturbed post-op management of surgical wounds following hip and knee replacement: A prospective observational series.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are standardised surgical procedures for patients with complex comorbidities. The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol has shown reduced lengths of hospital stay and reduced postoperative complications. Currently, there is a paucity of recommendations in regards to dressing selection for postoperative wound care within the ERAS protocol.

Uncovering the high prevalence of bacterial burden in surgical site wounds with point-of-care fluorescence imaging.

Detection of bacterial burden within or near surgical wounds is critical to reducing the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI). A distinct lack of reliable methods to identify postoperative bioburden has forced reliance on clinical signs and symptoms of infection (CSS). As a result, infection management has been reactive, rather than proactive.

Effectiveness of negative pressure wound therapy in the prevention of surgical wound complications in the cesarean section at-risk population: a parallel group randomised multicentre trial-the CYGNUS protocol.

Introduction: Caesarean delivery is steadily becoming one of the more common surgical procedures in Australia with over 100 000 caesarean sections performed each year. Over the last 10 years in Australia, the caesarean section rate has increased from 28% in 2003 to 33% in 2013. On the international stage, the Australian caesarean delivery rates are higher than the average for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Australia ranked as 8 out of 33 and is second to the USA.

The Perth Surgical Wound Dehiscence Risk Assessment Tool (PSWDRAT): development and prospective validation in the clinical setting.

Objective: The worldwide volume of surgery today is considerable and postoperative wound healing plays a significant part in facilitating a patient's recovery and rehabilitation. While contemporary surgical procedures are relatively safe, complications such as surgical wound dehiscence (SWD) or breakdown of the incision site may occur despite advances in surgical techniques, infection control practices and wound care. SWD impacts on patient mortality and morbidity and significantly contributes to prolonged hospital stay.

A survey of practice and opinions on the use of topical antibiotics to prevent surgical site infection: more confusion than consensus.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common causes of healthcare-associated infection. Although the use of topical antibiotics to prevent SSI is not recommended by current guidelines, published studies document conflicting results and conclusions.

Objectives: The objectives of this survey were to: (i) determine the extent of the use of topical antibiotics to prevent SSI in clinical practice; and (ii) gather the opinions of healthcare professionals most likely to be involved in their use.

Surgical wound dehiscence: a conceptual framework for patient assessment.

This paper presents a conceptual framework which outlines the risk factors associated with surgical wound dehiscence (SWD) as identified in the literature. The purpose for the development of the conceptual framework was to derive an evidence-based, informed understanding of factors associated with SWD, in order to inform a programme of research on the aetiology and potential risk factors of SWD. Incorporated within the patient-centric conceptual framework are patient related comorbidities, intraoperative and postoperative risk factors related to SWD.

Prevention of postsurgical wound dehiscence after abdominal surgery with NPWT: a multicentre randomised controlled trial protocol.

Objective: The effectiveness of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in the prevention of postoperative surgical wound dehiscence (SWD) is the subject of much debate and remains to be determined. This study will identify individuals at risk of postoperative SWD and trial the use of NPWT as a prophylactic measure against the occurrence of SWD, compared with a non-NPWT standard surgical dressing (SSD).

Method: A prospective multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing NPWT dressing against standard surgical dressings (SSD) will be conducted.

Surgical wound dehiscence in an Australian community nursing service: time and cost to healing.

Objective: Surgical wound dehiscence (SWD) increases the length of hospital stay and impacts on patient wellbeing and health-care costs. Globally, the health-care costs associated with SWD are poorly reported and those reported are frequently associated with surgical site infection (SSI), rather than dehiscence of non-microbial cause. This retrospective study describes and reports on the costs and time to healing associated with a number of surgical patients who were referred to a community nursing service for treatment of an SWD following discharge from a metropolitan hospital, in Perth, Western Australia.