Smith and Nephew reports positive data from Pico breast surgery study

Smith and Nephew's Pico negative pressure wound therapy system has demonstrated its efficacy in the treatment of breast surgery patients in a new international study.

The multi-centre study, presented at the European Symposium of Aesthetic Surgery of the Breast, has shown that Pico was associated with significantly fewer wound healing complications following breast reduction surgery compared to standard wound care.

A total of 200 bilateral breast reduction patients were observed across six leading centres in the US, Europe and South Africa, with Pico used as an incision management system and compared to surgical strips, the standard postoperative wound care procedure.

It was shown that the use of Pico was linked to a 38 percent relative reduction in surgical dehiscence – a surgical complication in which the wound ruptures along the suture line – while scar quality was also improved.

Dr Risal Djohan of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio said: "For a patient group with high expectations, Pico presents surgeons with a real opportunity to reduce surgical incision complications and improve the aesthetic outcome."

This comes after Smith and Nephew's wound dressing product Allevyn Life was awarded  Innovative Technology designation from supply chain expertise, analytics and contracting company Novation last month.