A Multicenter Analysis of Wide Excision and Reconstruction for Severe Anogenital Hidradenitis Suppurativa

An appropriate reconstruction strategy after wide excision for severe cases of anogenital hidradenitis suppurativa (aHS) is important to optimize outcomes, but there is no consensus on which reconstruction strategy should be preferred.

Evaluate which reconstruction strategy after wide excision in patients with severe aHS is associated with the best outcomes in terms of recurrence rate, complications and patient-reported outcomes on range of motion, pain, appearance, sexual health and satisfaction.

Multicenter retrospective analysis between 2009 and 2019 of wide excision and reconstruction by primary closure, secondary intention healing, split-thickness skin grafts or fasciocutaneous flaps (FCF). The recurrence rate was the primary endpoint of multivariable logistic regressions to determine variables with an independent effect on recurrence.

A total of 93 patients were included. The overall recurrence rate was 62% after a median follow-up of 43 months, without statistical significance between reconstruction strategies (P = 0.737). The number of interventions during follow-up was an independent risk factor for recurrence (odds ratio, 2.55; confidence interval, 1.24-5.25; P = 0.011). Complications (37%) were more severe after FCF (P = 0.007). The mean score regarding patient-reported outcomes was 14.9 ± 2.8, of 24, with best appearance after FCF (P = 0.042).

These long-term follow-up data on severe aHS demonstrate a high recurrence rate after wide excision and reconstruction. Patients should be informed that treatment consists of long-term medicinal and surgical interventions with high recurrence rates, and surgeons may choose their own preferred reconstruction methods. Furthermore, more attention should be paid to the sexual health of patients with aHS.