New Guidelines Aim to Revolutionize Post-Surgical Wound Care

ST. PAUL, MN – December 17, 2025 – A newly published set of international consensus recommendations is poised to reshape the standard of care for surgical wound management, potentially reducing costly and dangerous complications for millions of patients. Published in the International Wound Journal, the guidance from a multidisciplinary panel of surgeons and wound care experts advocates for the expanded use of closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT), specifically with dressings that use reticulated open cell foam (ROCF) technology, to protect surgical incisions in high-risk patients.

The recommendations mark a significant step in the evolution of post-operative care, suggesting a shift from using the therapy as a selective tool to integrating it as an essential, proactive measure. This development has major implications for patient safety, surgical protocols, and the competitive landscape of the multi-billion-dollar advanced wound care market.

A New Standard for Healing

Closed incision negative pressure therapy is a sophisticated alternative to traditional gauze dressings. It involves placing a specialized dressing over a closed surgical incision and applying continuous, gentle suction. This negative pressure helps hold the incision edges together, removes excess fluid and infectious material, reduces tension, and stimulates blood flow, creating an optimal environment for healing. According to a meta-analysis of 84 studies cited in the announcement, ciNPT has been shown to significantly lower the risk of surgical site complications, wound separation (dehiscence), and hospital readmissions compared to standard care.

The new consensus, comprising 12 statements, provides a clear framework for clinicians. It recommends using ciNPT with ROCF dressings for any patient with two or more risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, or smoking. It also endorses the therapy for incisions at high risk of fluid collection (seroma), for complex revision surgeries, and even for elective use in procedures where minimizing scarring is a primary concern. The guidance also differentiates between dressing types, suggesting wider area dressings for complex anatomies like flap closures and traditional linear dressings for high-tension incisions.

"ciNPT is a prime example of an established standard of care that continues to evolve with evidence and technology," said Dr. H. John Cooper, a study author and orthopedic surgeon at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, in a statement. "This consensus underscores the benefits of the use of ciNPT across surgical sub-specialties in managing high-risk patients."

By creating clear, risk-based indicators, the recommendations aim to standardize the use of the therapy, moving it from a niche application to a cornerstone of surgical complication prevention bundles for at-risk individuals worldwide.

A Strategic Win in a Competitive Market

The specificity of the panel's recommendations provides a powerful tailwind for Solventum, the health care company spun off from 3M. The company's Prevena™ Therapy is currently the only ciNPT system on the market that uses the reticulated open cell foam (ROCF) technology specifically highlighted in the consensus guidelines. This proprietary foam features a unique design that wicks fluid away from the skin while ensuring the consistent delivery of negative pressure across the entire wound bed.

This distinction gives Solventum a formidable competitive advantage. While other major players like Smith & Nephew, with its popular PICO system, and ConvaTec offer competing single-use ciNPT devices, their products utilize different dressing technologies. By focusing on the clinical evidence for ROCF, the international consensus effectively creates a powerful, third-party endorsement for the technology unique to Prevena Therapy. This could significantly influence purchasing decisions in hospitals and surgical centers, solidifying Solventum's market leadership.

The timing aligns with a broader market shift towards value-based care, where preventing a single costly complication outweighs the upfront expense of an advanced therapy. As healthcare systems globally prioritize patient safety and seek to reduce readmission penalties, the expanded, evidence-backed indications for Prevena Therapy could unlock substantial market growth.

Hurdles to Widespread Adoption

Despite the promising clinical data and expert endorsement, the path to widespread adoption is not without obstacles. One point of scrutiny arises from the publishing venue itself. The International Wound Journal, while a prominent publication in its field, has recently been embroiled in controversy. Since mid-2024, its publisher, Wiley, has retracted dozens of papers due to peer-review manipulation, raising questions about the historical rigor of its editorial processes. While the journal is implementing corrective measures, this context adds a layer of complexity to the validation of any new publication.

Beyond academic scrutiny, practical and financial barriers remain. The upfront cost of ciNPT systems is considerably higher than that of standard dressings. Hospital administrators and procurement departments must perform a careful cost-benefit analysis, weighing the device's price against the potential long-term savings from averted complications. Convincing budget-holders requires robust, institution-specific data that may take time to gather.

Furthermore, securing reimbursement from payers like Medicare and private insurers is critical. While coverage for ciNPT in certain high-risk scenarios already exists, these new, broader recommendations will need to be incorporated into insurer medical policies. Payers will likely demand strong health-economic evidence demonstrating that expanded use leads to net savings for the healthcare system before greenlighting wider coverage.

Finally, clinical inertia and the need for training can slow implementation. Surgeons and nursing staff must be educated on proper application techniques, particularly for complex wounds or difficult anatomical locations, to ensure the therapy's effectiveness and avoid user error.

A Safer Path to Recovery for Patients

For patients, particularly those facing high-risk surgeries, the clinical implications of the new guidelines are profoundly positive. Surgical site complications are not just a clinical issue; they are a major source of patient morbidity, pain, prolonged recovery, and emotional distress. An infected incision or one that breaks open can lead to additional surgeries, extended hospital stays, and long-term health problems.

The expanded use of ciNPT represents a proactive step to mitigate these risks before they materialize. For a patient undergoing a complex joint replacement, a breast reconstruction after cancer, or a vascular procedure, this therapy offers an added layer of security. The potential for better healing can mean a faster return to daily life, less post-operative anxiety, and improved cosmetic outcomes, a factor now formally recognized by the expert panel as a valid reason for use.

This shift underscores a larger trend in modern medicine: a move away from simply reacting to problems and towards systematically preventing them. By identifying at-risk patients early and applying advanced, evidence-based interventions like ciNPT, the medical community aims to make the surgical journey safer and the path to recovery smoother for everyone.