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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Author Spotlight: Studying Host-Microbe Interactions in Wound Biofilm Formation
Published on: June 16, 2023
Effectiveness of Wound-Edge Protectors for Preventing Surgical Site Infections after Open Surgery for Colorectal
Hirotoshi Kobayashi1, Hiroyuki Uetake2, Masamichi Yasuno2
1Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Hiroo Hospital, Tokyo, Japanh-kobayashi.srg2@tmd.ac.jp.
Background:
Standard procedures to reduce the surgical site infection (SSI) rate after colorectal surgery have not been established. A prospective cohort study with 2 parallel study groups was performed to clarify the SSI rate after open surgery with and without a wound-edge protector (WEP) for colorectal disease.
Methods:
A total of 102 patients who underwent elective open surgery for colorectal disease between October 2012 and August 2014 were randomly assigned to a WEP group and a WEP (-) group. The primary endpoint was the SSI rate in both groups.
Results:
Fifty-one patients were assigned to the WEP group and 51 to the WEP (-) group. Two patients were excluded from this study. The rate of SSI with and without a WEP was 16 and 36% respectively (p = 0.021). Older age (p = 0.0073) and no WEP (p = 0.021) were risk factors for SSI after open surgery for colorectal diseases on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, both older age (p = 0.016) and no WEP (p = 0.012) were independent risk factors for SSI.
Conclusion:
The present randomized, phase II trial found an SSI rate of 16% with use of a WEP. The SSI rate was lower in the WEP group than in the WEP (-) group. A WEP may reduce the SSI rate after open surgery for colorectal disease in Japanese patients.
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