Impact of advanced wound care methods on obstetric patients: a meta-analysis

Obstetric procedures, including caesarean sections and episiotomies, often result in surgical wounds requiring effective management to prevent complications. Advanced wound care (AWC) methods-such as bioactive dressings, topical antimicrobials and medicated creams-are increasingly used to enhance healing outcomes. This meta-analysis aimed to quantitatively assess the efficacy of AWC interventions compared to standard methods in obstetric patients.

A comprehensive literature search (2003-2023) identified relevant randomised controlled trials and observational studies. Using the metabin function from the R meta package, data from studies were pooled to assess wound healing efficacy. Heterogeneity and publication bias were also evaluated.

A total of 11 studies comprising 1977 patients were analysed. AWC methods, including organic gels (e.g., aloe vera, honey, turmeric), antibiotic dressings, and topical formulations were associated with improved wound healing in several studies. However, the pooled risk ratio was 0.97 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.81 to 1.16, indicating no statistically significant difference between AWC and standard treatments. Substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies (I²=78%; τ²=0.0734; p<0.01), reflecting variability in treatment effects. A random-effects model was employed to account for this variation. Egger's test for publication bias was not significant (p=0.9778), suggesting minimal risk of bias in the included studies.

While several studies indicated promising outcomes with AWC approaches, the overall pooled estimate did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest that although AWC methods may offer clinical value, further high-quality, stratified research is needed to confirm their efficacy and clarify patient-specific benefits.