Impact of Perioperative Antibiotic Use on Surgical Scarring

This retrospective observational cohort study will evaluate whether perioperative antibiotic use is associated with long-term surgical scar outcomes. The study will include adult patients who underwent body surface surgery at Nanfang Hospital between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2025 and have available surgical, medication, and scar-related clinical records. The study will not assign participants to any treatment. Researchers will review existing medical records, perioperative antibiotic exposure, surgical characteristics, complications, and scar assessments or photographs. Scar outcomes will be assessed using modified visual analogue scale scores, scar width, scar type, and scar-related complications.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older. * Underwent body surface surgery at Nanfang Hospital between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2025, with a linear surgical incision scar. * Presented to the Department of Plastic Surgery at Nanfang Hospital for surgical scar-related care. * Had no medical encounter record at Nanfang Hospital from January 1, 2025 to the time of study screening. * Available clear surgical records and perioperative medication records. Exclusion Criteria: * Known tendency for pathological scarring or scar constitution. * History of chronic skin disease in the surgical area, such as psoriasis or eczema. * Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, hypoalbuminemia, or long-term use of immunosuppressive agents or glucocorticoids. * Target scar received any scar-specific treatment after surgery, such as laser therapy, radiotherapy, drug injection, or surgical revision.