Impact of Perioperative Antibiotic Use on Surgical Scarring
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorNanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University
About this trial
This retrospective observational cohort study will evaluate whether perioperative antibiotic use is associated with long-term surgical scar outcomes. The study will include adult patients who underwent body surface surgery at Nanfang Hospital between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2025 and have available surgical, medication, and scar-related clinical records.
The study will not assign participants to any treatment. Researchers will review existing medical records, perioperative antibiotic exposure, surgical characteristics, complications, and scar assessments or photographs. Scar outcomes will be assessed using modified visual analogue scale scores, scar width, scar type, and scar-related complications.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Age 18 years or older.
Underwent body surface surgery at Nanfang Hospital between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2025, with a linear surgical incision scar.
Presented to the Department of Plastic Surgery at Nanfang Hospital for surgical scar-related care.
Had no medical encounter record at Nanfang Hospital from January 1, 2025 to the time of study screening.
Disqualifiers
Known tendency for pathological scarring or scar constitution.
History of chronic skin disease in the surgical area, such as psoriasis or eczema.
Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, hypoalbuminemia, or long-term use of immunosuppressive agents or glucocorticoids.
Target scar received any scar-specific treatment after surgery, such as laser therapy, radiotherapy, drug injection, or surgical revision.
Trial population
The study population will include adult patients who underwent body surface surgery at Nanfang Hospital between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2025, developed a linear surgical incision scar, and later presented to the Department of Plastic Surgery for scar-related care. Eligible patients must have available surgical records, perioperative medication records, and scar outcome information.
Trial design
Design model
Cohort
Time perspective
Retrospective
Treatments tested in this trial
Perioperative Antibiotic Exposure
Other interventionPatterns of perioperative antibiotic use documented in existing medical records, including timing, indication, antibiotic type, duration, frequency, and route of administration. No antibiotic treatment will be assigned or provided by the study.
Treatment groups
5,000 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment groupGroup A: Retrospective Surgical Scar Cohort1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Overall Scar Appearance Score Assessed Using a Modified Visual Analogue Scale
Overall scar appearance will be evaluated from scar photographs by three blinded physicians or trained study personnel using a modified visual analogue scale. Scores range from 1 to 10, with 1 indicating appearance similar to normal skin and 10 indicating the worst imaginable scar appearance.
Time frame
Scar photographs were taken during postoperative clinical follow-up, with an overall range from 3 months to 20 years after surgery. Given the wide span, the assessments will be stratified and reported according to the actual time of photography, for examSecondary outcomes
1
Scar Color Score Assessed Using a Modified Visual Analogue Scale
Scar color will be evaluated from scar photographs by three blinded physicians or trained study personnel using a modified visual analogue scale. Scores range from 1 to 10, with lower scores indicating color more similar to normal skin and higher scores indicating worse scar color.
Time frame
Scar photographs were taken during postoperative clinical follow-up, with an overall range from 3 months to 20 years after surgery. Given the wide span, the assessments will be stratified and reported according to the actual time of photography, for exam2
Scar Texture Score Assessed Using a Modified Visual Analogue Scale
Scar texture will be evaluated from scar photographs by three blinded physicians or trained study personnel using a modified visual analogue scale. Scores range from 1 to 10, with lower scores indicating texture more similar to normal skin and higher scores indicating worse scar texture.
Time frame
Scar photographs were taken during postoperative clinical follow-up, with an overall range from 3 months to 20 years after surgery. Given the wide span, the assessments will be stratified and reported according to the actual time of photography, for exam3
Scar Width
Scar width will be calculated from scar photographs by outlining the scar boundary and using ImageJ to measure scar area and scar length. Scar width will be calculated as scar area divided by scar length.
Time frame
Scar photographs were taken during postoperative clinical follow-up, with an overall range from 3 months to 20 years after surgery. Given the wide span, the assessments will be stratified and reported according to the actual time of photography, for exam4
Scar-Related Complications
Scar-related complications will be identified from medical records and scar assessments, including wound dehiscence, suture reaction, necrosis, hematoma, infection, persistent itching, persistent pain, and sensory abnormalities.
Time frame
Postoperative days 0 to 30 (inclusive). The timing of each complication was determined from medical records.Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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