Objective To study the effect of Fe 3+ -modified carborymethyl celluiose (Fe 3+ -CMC ) on preventing postoperative adhesion and inhibiting the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) in the injured parts of postoperative peritoneum. Methods Fourty Wistar mice were divided into 2 groups randomly, and abdominal adhesion models were made, then 0.9% NaCl (control group) and Fe 3+ -CMC (experimental group) were sprayed into the wound surface of abdominal cavity. All mice were killed to observe the adhesion condition on day 14 after operation. Another 120 Wistar mice were divided into 2 groups randomly, and abdominal adhesion models were made as mentioned above. Ten mice were killed which were chosen randomly from 2 groups on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 60, respectively. The expressions of TNF-α and FGF in the peritoneal injured and adhesion tissues were observed by immunohistochemistry technique. Results The adhesion grade in experimental group was much lower than that in control group ( P ＜ 0.01). The expression of TNF-α (day 3-7 after operation) and FGF (day 5-7 after operation) in experimental group were lower than those in control group ( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Fe 3+ -CMC can decrease postoperative adhesion grade and prevent the expressions of TNF-α and FGF in injured parts of postoperative peritoneum.