Obesity is Not Associated With Need for Skin Grafting After Hidradenitis Excision

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, debilitating disease associated with inflammation, recurrent abscesses, and fistulae of skin containing apocrine sweat glands. We hypothesize that the need for skin grafting after vacuum-assisted closure was decreased with increasing body mass index (BMI).

Seventy-one consecutive patients with excisions for HS were retrospectively evaluated for demographic data, number of excisions, the total area of excised skin, need for skin grafting, and BMI. Patients were stratified for BMI and underwent logistic regression to compare all other variables.

Average for BMI was 30.8 ± 7.72, age was 36.89 ±13.52, area excised was 743 cm² ± 774 cm², mean operating room trips were 2.62 ± 1.59, and skin grafting was 0.52 ± 0.55. Patients were 60% male. Forty out of 71 patients were obese. There was no correlation between age, BMI, sex, thenumber of excisions, amount of skin excised, or need for a skin graft. There was a statistically significant relationship between the amount of skin excised and the need for skin grafting (P = .006).

The amount of skin affected by HS appears to be independent of patient BMI. The need for skin grafting is solely dependent upon the amount of tissue excised.

This knowledge will help preoperative planning for all patients with HS, regardless of BMI.