Steri-Strip Application Versus Standard Wound Closure for Cesarean Section Incisions (STRIP-CS)

June 29, 2026 updated by: Matthew X Perera, DO, Riverside University Health System Medical Center

A Randomized Prospective Trial Comparing Steri-Strip Application Versus Standard Wound Closure for Cesarean Section Incisions

This study is evaluating whether Steri-Strips® provide additional benefits when used after cesarean section (C-section) surgery. Steri-Strips are adhesive strips that are commonly placed over a surgical incision to provide support while the wound heals. At our hospital, Steri-Strips are routinely used after C-sections in addition to standard wound closure techniques, although they are not considered part of the standard recommended closure method.

Researchers want to determine whether adding Steri-Strips actually reduces wound complications such as infection, fluid collection under the skin, or reopening of the incision. Previous studies have shown mixed results, with some suggesting little difference in wound healing outcomes while others reported differences in scar appearance. Steri-Strips may also increase costs, add time to the surgery, and occasionally cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.

Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive standard cesarean wound closure with Steri-Strips, while the other group will receive standard wound closure without Steri-Strips. Researchers will compare wound healing, complications, patient outcomes, and costs between the two groups.

The goal of this study is to determine whether Steri-Strips improve recovery after cesarean delivery and whether their routine use is beneficial and cost-effective. The findings may help guide future recommendations for cesarean wound care and improve outcomes for patients undergoing C-section delivery.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

610

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Moreno Valley, California, United States, 92555
        • Recruiting
        • Riverside University Health System Medical Center
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female patients age 18 years or older
  • Pregnant patients undergoing cesarean delivery at Riverside University Health System Medical Center (RUHS)
  • Able and willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known allergy or hypersensitivity to Steri-Strip™ materials or adhesives
  • Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent
  • Anticipated inability to complete the 30-day postpartum follow-up evaluation

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Standard Closure + Steri-Strips
Participants undergo standard cesarean skin closure followed by application of Steri-Strip™ skin closure strips according to a standardized study protocol.
Device: Steri-Strip™ Skin Closures
Application of Steri-Strip adhesive skin closure strips following standard cesarean section wound closure according to a standardized protocol.
Procedure: Standard Cesarean Wound Closure
Standard skin closure performed following cesarean delivery according to institutional practice.
Active Comparator: Standard Closure Alone
Participants undergo standard cesarean skin closure without application of Steri-Strip™ skin closure strips.
Procedure: Standard Cesarean Wound Closure
Standard skin closure performed following cesarean delivery according to institutional practice.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Incidence of Cesarean Section Wound Complications
Time Frame: Within 30 days postpartum
Composite incidence of postoperative wound complications including surgical site infection, wound seroma, and wound separation/dehiscence following cesarean delivery.
Within 30 days postpartum

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Length of Hospital Stay
Time Frame: From cesarean delivery until hospital discharge (up to 7 days)
Duration of hospitalization measured from cesarean delivery until discharge.
From cesarean delivery until hospital discharge (up to 7 days)
Readmission Related to Wound Complications
Time Frame: Within 30 days postpartum
Hospital readmission attributable to wound infection, seroma, or wound separation/dehiscence following cesarean delivery.
Within 30 days postpartum
Cost of Wound Management
Time Frame: From cesarean delivery through 30 days postpartum
Comparison of direct healthcare costs associated with wound closure materials and management of postoperative wound complications between study groups.
From cesarean delivery through 30 days postpartum

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Riverside University Health System Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 24, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 29, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 7, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 29, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2357408

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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