Impact of Perioperative Antibiotic Use on Surgical Scarring

NCT07741591 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: NFEC-2026-164MR-44-26-022534
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 5,000
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Surgical Scar; Postoperative Scar

Keywords

Perioperative Antibiotics; Surgical Scar; Postoperative Scar; Scar Assessment; Visual Analogue Scale

Outcome Measures

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.

  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 exam

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Scar Color Score Assessed Using a Modified Visual Analogue Scale

  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 exam

• Scar Texture Score Assessed Using a Modified Visual Analogue Scale

  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 exam

• Scar Width

  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 exam

• Scar-Related Complications

  Postoperative days 0 to 30 (inclusive). The timing of each complication was determined from medical records.

Study Arms (1)

Retrospective Surgical Scar Cohort

Adult patients who underwent body surface surgery at Nanfang Hospital between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2025 and have available surgical records, perioperative medication records, and scar outcome information.

Other: Perioperative Antibiotic Exposure

Interventions

Perioperative Antibiotic Exposure OTHER

Patterns 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.

Retrospective Surgical Scar Cohort

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study 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.

You may qualify if:

• 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.
• Available clear surgical records and perioperative medication records.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University

Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China

Location

Central Study Contacts

Gaofeng Wang, Principal Investigator

CONTACT

+86 13242749806; Wenzhenli0526@163.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 23, 2026
• First Posted: August 3, 2026
• Study Start: August 3, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 15, 2026
• Last Updated: August 3, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)