Artificial Intelligence for Postoperative Wound Monitoring: An Integrative Review of Digital Innovation and Clinical Feasibility
The American Surgeon, 2026
Joel Grunhut, Khanjan Nagarsheth
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In brief
AI for chronic wounds is well studied, but surgical incisions after an operation have received far less attention. We reviewed 118 articles on AI for postoperative wound monitoring, covering deep learning image analysis, wearable biosensors, mobile apps and natural language processing, and propose a roadmap for bringing these tools into surgical practice.
Key findings
118 articles met inclusion criteria in this integrative review of AI for postoperative surgical wound monitoring.
The field's main gaps are the lack of large standardized wound datasets, explainable AI frameworks and robust clinical validation studies.
Technologies evaluated include deep learning wound image assessment, wearable biosensors, smartphone applications and natural language processing.
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformative potential in postoperative wound care through precise, automated, and timely wound assessment, yet specific applications to surgical wounds remain relatively unexplored compared to chronic wound care. This integrative review critically assesses the state-of-the-art in AI-driven postoperative wound monitoring, highlighting significant advancements, existing limitations, and opportunities for future development. Following an extensive literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline, we identified 118 relevant articles meeting stringent inclusion criteria. Our analysis underscores the critical need for large-scale, standardized datasets, explainable AI frameworks, and robust clinical validation studies. By evaluating AI technologies-such as deep learning, wearable biosensors, mobile applications, and natural language processing-we propose a roadmap for integrating advanced AI methods into surgical practice, aiming ultimately to enhance clinical outcomes and patient care.
How to cite
Grunhut J, Nagarsheth K. Artificial Intelligence for Postoperative Wound Monitoring: An Integrative Review of Digital Innovation and Clinical Feasibility. Am Surg. 2026;92(3):929-935. doi:10.1177/00031348251385104