The use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for the treatment of wounds is not uncommon in modern health-care systems. However, use of NPWT as a wound prevention strategy, or 'well-wound therapy', is not so common. To date, papers that do discuss the use of NPWT in this way have focused mainly on orthopaedic and sternotomy wounds. This case study will present the use of NPWT with the goal of preventing laparotomy breakdown, utilising an innovative splinting technique.