Your incision. Your decision.

The incision may be closed in theatre. But what happens next determines whether your work — and your patient’s recovery — is protected or undermined.

Post-operative dressing choice is not a routine step. It is a clinical decision that directly influences healing, protection and patient experience, because incision care doesn’t end with the last stitch.

Global Consensus on Post-Operative Incision Care

Over 100 surgical experts across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa aligned on key principles to modernise post-operative incision management1. 

After 12 international consensus meetings between 2019 and 2025, they agreed on two essential principles:

  1. Post-operative dressings should only be changed when clinically necessary to reduce contamination, cost and promote healing.
  2. The ideal post-operative dressing should meet six key requirements for protection, comfort and performance.

This consensus reflects a global commitment to progress. It sets out a clear standard, one that ensures surgical skill in theatre is carried forward into every patient’s recovery.

Download the full consensus publication

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Your incision. Your decision

Your impact does not have to end with your last stitch. Your choice of post-surgical dressing and the standard of your incision care will determine whether your good work, and your patient’s recovery, are protected or undermined.

Upskill your wound care knowledge

  • In this training video, surgical oncologist Dr Sara Carvalhal (Joaquim Chaves Saúde, Portugal) shares her passion for incision care, emphasising the pivotal role of the surgeon.

    With a focus on primary closure and the factors that may increase the risk of complications, Dr Carvalhal outlines the characteristics of the ideal post-operative dressing and emphasises the benefits of undisturbed wound healing. She concludes with recommendations to support optimal outcomes.

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Look beyond unit price – consider total cost and impact on patient

  • When evaluating costs, looking at price per unit of dressing alone does not tell the full story. Conventional dressings often require repeated changes, increasing clinical workload and costs2,3. Advanced dressings, on the other hand, can stay in place for much longer, which not only promotes undisturbed wound healing but can also potentially reduce the total cost of incision care.

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Ready to elevate your incision care protocol?

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References

    1. Morgan-Jones R. Defining excellence in incision care: Consensus from over 100 surgeons and surgical experts on the importance of undisturbed wound healing and surgical dressing properties. Global Wound Care Journal, 2025.
    2. Beele H. et al. A prospective randomized controlled clinical investigation comparing two post-operative wound dressings used after elective hip and knee replacement; Mepilex® Border Post-Op versus Aquacel® Surgical. International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing, 2020.
    3. Bredow J. et al. Evaluation of Absorbent Versus Conventional Wound Dressing. A Randomized Controlled Study in Orthopedic Surgery. Deutsche Arzteblatt International, 2018.
    4. Pickering D, Marsden J. Techniques for aseptic dressing and procedures. Community Eye Health. 2015;28(89):17. doi:10.56920/cehj.588.

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