InCISE: Instrument for Comprehensive Incisional and Surgical Evaluation

The study developed the InCISE score, a tool for assessing postoperative wound healing in head and neck surgery patients, using data from 46 patients and 116 digital photographs. The InCISE score evaluated seven domains of wound healing and demonstrated strong internal consistency and reliability, particularly among fellowship-trained surgeons, with intra-class correlation values of 0.76 for inter-rater reliability and 0.87 for intra-rater reliability. However, reliability was only moderate among physician assistants. The score showed significant positive correlations with SF-12 physical component scores but did not significantly associate with clinical complications or Vancouver Scar Scale scores. While the InCISE score showed promise for standardizing wound assessment and improving communication among healthcare providers, further research was needed to establish its comprehensive validity and refine it for broader clinical use.