An interventional study of Open Hemorrhoidectomy and Closed Hemorrhoidectomy (Ferguson Technique) in Hemorrhoids, sponsored by The Affiliated Hospital of Putian University. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-04.
Sponsored by The Affiliated Hospital of Putian University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study compares three different ways surgeons close the wound after removing hemorrhoids (piles): leaving it completely open, stitching it completely closed, or stitching only half of it closed (semi-closed). The goal is to see which method leads to faster healing, less pain, fewer complications, and better long-term results. Patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups. All patients will receive standard post-operative care. Researchers will measure healing time, pain levels, need for pain medication, hospital stay, complications, and check if hemorrhoids come back within one year.
Hemorrhoids are a very common condition, and when surgery is needed, there is no consensus on the best way to manage the surgical wound afterward. This single-center, prospective, randomized clinical trial aims to directly compare the clinical outcomes of the three primary wound management techniques: open, closed, and semi-closed hemorrhoidectomy.
A total of 378 patients will be randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups. The primary focus is on comparing key short-term outcomes, including the time it takes for the wound to fully heal, the length of the hospital stay, and the rate of complications such as surgical site infection, bleeding, and urinary retention.
Secondary outcomes will provide a broader picture of patient recovery. Pain will be carefully assessed using a standardized pain scale (Visual Analog Scale) on multiple days after surgery and by tracking the total amount of pain medication required during hospitalization. Furthermore, to understand the long-term effectiveness of each technique, the study will follow patients for one year after surgery to assess their quality of life and monitor for any recurrence of hemorrhoids.
This is the first clinical trial to evaluate all three techniques within the same study. The results are expected to provide high-quality evidence to help surgeons choose the most effective wound management strategy, ultimately improving patient care and recovery after hemorrhoid surgery.
238 studies on the registry are indexed under Hemorrhoids; 73 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 378 is above the median of 100 across 183 interventional studies indexed under Hemorrhoids.
Browse Hemorrhoids studies →The Affiliated Hospital of Putian University is the lead sponsor of 14 studies on the registry; 13 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients in this group will undergo open hemorrhoidectomy. Following external stripping and internal ligation, the wound will be left open without any sutures for healing by secondary intention.
Procedure: Open Hemorrhoidectomy
Patients in this group will undergo closed hemorrhoidectomy (Ferguson technique). After achieving hemostasis, the entire wound will be closed primarily using interrupted non-absorbable sutures.
Procedure: Closed Hemorrhoidectomy (Ferguson Technique)
Patients in this group will undergo semi-closed hemorrhoidectomy. Following hemostasis, the distal half of the incision (away from the anal canal) will be closed with interrupted sutures, while the proximal half is left open.
Procedure: Semi-Closed Hemorrhoidectomy
Patients in this group undergo a hemorrhoidectomy procedure where, after external stripping and internal ligation, the surgical wound is left entirely open without sutures to heal by secondary intention. All patients receive standard postoperative care including potassium permanganate rinses and povidone-iodine disinfection.
Patients in this group undergo a hemorrhoidectomy procedure where, after achieving hemostasis, the entire surgical wound is closed primarily using interrupted non-absorbable sutures. All patients receive standard postoperative care including potassium permanganate rinses and povidone-iodine disinfection.
Patients in this group undergo a hemorrhoidectomy procedure where, after achieving hemostasis, the distal half of the incision (away from the anal canal) is closed with interrupted sutures, while the proximal half remains open. All patients receive standard postoperative care including potassium permanganate rinses and povidone-iodine disinfection.
Wound healing time
The time required for complete wound healing, defined as 100% re-epithelialization of the surgical site with no exudate or scab, assessed by a blinded evaluator.
Time frame: Daily from postoperative Day 1 until complete epithelialization is achieved (assessed for up to 28 days post-surgery)
Postoperative pain intensity (NRS score)
Pain intensity was evaluated on a 0 to 10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), with higher scores indicating more severe pain (0 = no pain; 10 = worst possible pain).
Time frame: Baseline (preoperative), and on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 14 (±2 days).
Perianal edema severity
Severity of swelling around the surgical site evaluated by trained research nurses using a standardized 0-6 point scale.
Time frame: Postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 14 (±2 days).
Length of hospital stay
Duration of hospitalization measured in hours from the end of surgery to discharge, using standardized discharge criteria.
Time frame: From end of surgery until discharge (assessed up to 7 days postoperatively).
Complication incidence
Occurrence of postoperative complications (e.g., infection, bleeding, urinary retention) classified and graded using the Clavien-Dindo system.
Time frame: Within 30 days after surgery.
No study locations are listed for this record.
Start is estimated for Apr 2026; primary completion for Dec 2026, 8 months later.
Of 65 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Hemorrhoids, half reached primary completion within 23 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 35. This study's planned 8 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 70 studies reached it within 23 months; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 35.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Mar 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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The Affiliated Hospital of Putian University