Controlled Diabetes and Surgical Wound Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Background: This prospective comparative study evaluated postoperative outcomes in patients with and without controlled type II diabetes mellitus undergoing elective surgical procedures.

Methods: Conducted at the Department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from June 2023 to January 2024, the study included 300 adult patients aged 18–65 years. Participants were stratified into two groups: Group A comprised 139 patients with controlled type II diabetes (HbA1c ≤7%), while Group B included 161 non-diabetic patients. Standardized operative protocols and perioperative care were maintained across groups to ensure comparability. Postoperative complications were assessed over a 30-day follow-up, including surgical site infections (SSIs), seroma, abscess, and wound dehiscence.

Results: Results showed higher complication rates in diabetic patients, with abscess formation (13.7% vs. 5.6%, p=0.01) and wound dehiscence (8.6% vs. 3.1%, p=0.02) significantly more frequent in Group A. Although SSIs (9.4% vs. 6.2%) and seroma formation (7.2% vs. 5.6%) were also higher in diabetics, differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that even well-controlled diabetes predisposes patients to adverse wound outcomes, particularly abscess and dehiscence. Comprehensive perioperative risk stratification and intensified postoperative monitoring are recommended to mitigate complications.