Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is commonly used to aid the healing of complex, chronic and/or open wounds, in the form of a vacuum-assisted closure system [[1], [2], [3]]. There is a growing trend of using NPWT in closed incisions (ciNPWT) prophylactically, replacing traditional surgical dressings [[2], [3], [4]]. The application of prophylactic ciNPWT allows constant negative pressure delivery to the wound bed, optimises the microenvironment for wound healing, eases the lateral wound tension and reduces scar width [3]. There have been significant advances in breast surgery techniques over time with the introduction of oncoplastic breast surgery (OPBS). This results in smaller, more aesthetically placed incisions, and reconstruction using either local tissue or prostheses [5,6].

Wound complications in OPBS may vary depending on the type of surgery undertaken, with implant-based reconstructive surgery having a greater risk of surgical site infection (SSI) compared to traditional lumpectomy or mastectomy [7,8]. These complications may delay the commencement of adjuvant breast cancer treatments, negatively impacting patients’ disease-free and overall survival rates [7,8]. To optimise wound outcomes, prophylactic ciNPWT has been a topic of growing interest in breast cancer surgeries. Its use has been shown to have favourable wound outcomes including reduced SSI, dehiscence and necrosis rates compared to standard dressings; however, the literature is limited by small study numbers and sample sizes [9]. Due to its potential to cost-effectively reduce wound complications, further evaluation of prophylactic ciNPWT is essential.

As the trend of breast cancer surgery evolves toward breast conserving and oncoplastic approaches to maximise cosmesis [6], it becomes increasingly important to address associated wound complications, and to evaluate the potential utilisation of prophylactic ciNPWT to mitigate such complications. This study evaluated efficacy of routine prophylactic ciNPWT application in OPBS, analysed trends in wound outcome over time and compared post-operative wound outcomes to current literature.