Smith+Nephew has released results from a comparative study analyzing the effectiveness of single-use negative pressure wound therapy (sNPWT) devices in orthopedic and cardiovascular surgeries. The study, which examined data from over 22,000 patients within the Premier PINC AI Healthcare Database, compared PICO sNPWT (-80 mmHg) to PrevenaTM -125 mmHg sNPWT.
The research found that using PICO sNPWT significantly reduced the risk of wound dehiscence, hospital length of stay, and overall healthcare costs compared to Prevena. In cardiovascular surgery involving more than 5,000 patients, PICO was associated with a 57.8% relative reduction in wound dehiscence risk, a 9.1% decrease in hospital stay duration (6.33 days versus 6.86 days), and a reduction in both admission-related costs by 10.34% and expenditures within three months post-surgery by 13%.
For orthopedic procedures covering more than 17,000 patients, there was a reported 63.9% relative reduction in wound dehiscence incidence, a decrease in hospital stay by nearly one day (2.43 days versus 3.10 days), and reductions in mean index admission cost by almost 22%, as well as lower costs at both thirty- and ninety-day intervals after surgery.
Surgical site complications are linked with longer hospital stays and increased risks for readmission and mortality—especially among patients with conditions such as obesity or diabetes—according to Smith+Nephew’s announcement.
Dr. Adam Wright, an orthopedic surgeon involved with the study stated: “The differences we are seeing likely relate to the PICO system and its dressing design, as well as the associated mechanisms of action that may contribute to improved clinical outcomes.” He added: “Using PICO sNPWT prophylactically on at-risk patients undergoing orthopedic or cardiovascular surgeries helps reduce SSCs, and consequently, strain on healthcare resources.”
This new data adds to evidence supporting incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT). A recent meta-analysis presented at the International Consensus Meeting 2025 recommended iNPWT use for minimizing surgical site infections following certain fracture surgeries or joint arthroplasty procedures.
These recommendations align with global guidelines from organizations including NICE, WHO, and ACS/SIS that advise iNPWT use for reducing infection risks among high-risk patient groups.
Further details about these studies can be found at https://www.possiblewithpico.com/home
