Trial Design
This trial has been powered to detect a 15% clinically relevant improvement in surgical site infection for soft tissue sarcoma resection. This requires 80 per arm including loss to follow up.
Intervention group: 5 days NPWT (ActiVAC - KCI, Texas, USA)
Control group: Absorbent dressings (as per local protocol)
Inclusion criteria:
Adults (16 and over)
Soft tissue sarcoma undergoing curative resection
Primary closure
English speaking
Exclusion criteria:
None primary closure
Unable to consent
Children
Post radiation sarcomas or sarcoma in presence of active infection
Multiple metastatic disease
Outcomes:
1. Surgical site infection (endpoint 30 days)
2. Time to wound dryness
3. Surgical drain volume
4. Adverse Events
5. Function:
- Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS)
- Musculoskeletal Society Score (MSTS)