Trials that cannot win: why wound closure research needs a refresh
The wound closure literature has accumulated trials designed, from the outset, not to succeed. A new primary endpoint and bundle-based trial design can change that
Wound
Independent commentary and analysis on surgical medtech, research, and policy. For the clinicians, researchers, and organisations shaping the future of surgery.
Each editorial is permanently archived and citable.
Beyond waiting times: The case for a delay framework across colorectal cancer pathways
Despite national targets and continuous investment, improvements in colorectal cancer survival over the last 25 years have been modest. Current NHS waiting time metrics tell us little about where or why delays actually occur. It is time to build a validated delay framework.
Research
Evidence, Adoption, and the Paradox of Surgical Innovation: Lessons from STITCH and the Rise of Robotic Surgery
The STITCH trial provides near-definitive evidence for small-bite fascial closure; yet only one in five UK surgeons use it. Meanwhile, robotic surgery has swept through health systems with limited evidence. What does this paradox reveal about how surgical innovation actually works?
Policy
Patient-centred outcomes in perioperative and surgical care: Days Alive and Out of Hospital
Days Alive and Out of Hospital (DAOH) has become established as a primary outcome in surgical and perioperative research, serving as a proxy for patients' return to function, survivorship, and timely recovery.
Research