Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34818705›Full record

ArticleArchives of plastic surgery2021

Management of complex surgical wounds of the back: identifying an evidence-based approach.

Elizabeth G Zolper, Meher A Saleem, Kevin G Kim, Mark D Mishu, Sarah R Sher, Christopher E Attinger, Kenneth L Fan, Karen K Evans

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of plastic surgery, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Taming the persistent seroma: multidisciplinary management following complex spinal revision surgery - a case report.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Elizabeth G ZolperGeorgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
Meher A SaleemGeorgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
Kevin G KimDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Mark D MishuGeorgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
Sarah R SherDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Christopher E AttingerDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Kenneth L FanDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Karen K EvansDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Georgetown University · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPostoperative dehiscence and surgical site infection after spinal surgery can carry serious morbidity. Multidisciplinary involvement of plastic surgery is essential to minimizing morbidity and achieving definitive closure. However, a standardized approach is lacking. The aim of this study was to identify effective reconstructive interventions for the basis of an evidence-based management protocol.

methodsA retrospective review was performed at a single tertiary institution for 45 patients who required 53 reconstruction procedures with plastic surgery for wounds secondary to spinal surgery from 2010 to 2019. Statistical analysis was performed for demographics, comorbidities, and treatment methods. Primary outcomes were postoperative complications, including dehiscence, seroma, and infection. The secondary outcome was time to healing.

resultsThe overall complication rate was 32%, with dehiscence occurring in 17%, seroma in 15% and infection in 11% of cases. Median follow-up was 10 months (interquartile range, 4-23). Use of antibiotic beads did not affect rate of infection occurrence after wound closure (P=0.146). Use of incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT) was significant for reduced time to healing (P=0.001). Patients treated without iNPWT healed at median of 67.5 days while the patients who received iNPWT healed in 33 days. Demographics and comorbidities between these two groups were similar.

conclusionsThis data provides groundwork for an evidence-based approach to soft tissue reconstruction and management of dehiscence after spinal surgery. Timely involvement of plastic surgery in high-risk patients and utilization of evidence-based interventions such as iNPWT are essential for improving outcomes in this population.

Indexed as

Postoperative careSoft tissue infectionsSpinal surgerySurgical wound dehiscenceSurgical wound infection

Identifiers

PMID34818705
PMCPMC8627952
OpenAlexW3216888431

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.