Effect of Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy vs Standard Wound Dressing on Deep Surgical Site Infection After Surgery for Lower Limb Fractures Associated With Major Trauma: The WHIST Randomized Clinical Trial

RCT (n=1,548) found no difference in the rate of deep surgical site infection for incisional negative pressure wound therapy, compared with standard wound dressing among patients who underwent surgery for major trauma–related lower limb fractures.

SPS commentary:

A related commentary states this study provides important findings that encourage a judicious approach to the use of incisional negative pressure wound therapy following operative repair of a traumatic lower extremity fracture, considering that negative pressure wound therapy is more costly than conventional dressings and may have no demonstrable clinical benefit for preventing surgical site infection.

Journal of the American Medical Association

Resource links:

Editorial