Negative pressure dressings for severe hidradenitis suppurativa (acne inversa): a case report

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a frustrating disease to treat for both the patient and the practitioner. In severe cases, aggressive management will often have a more tolerable outcome. We present the case of a 46-year-old gentleman with a long-standing history of severe HS, who was treated successfully with wide surgical excision, followed by a full-thickness skin graft and negative pressure wound therapy (both pre- and post-operatively). A review of the literature revealed few reports of HS treatment using these sequential steps.