Patient Impressions and Outcomes After Clinic-Based Hidradenitis Suppurativa Surgery

Surgical intervention is frequently needed to treat hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Patient satisfaction is high based on previous studies, but reports of patient impressions of clinic-based operative experiences and postoperative recovery are limited.

To characterize patient impressions, outcomes, and recovery time after clinic-based surgical treatment of HS and examine patient characteristics associated with outcomes.

This retrospective cohort study included patients 12 years or older who underwent clinic-based surgical procedures for treatment of HS at a single subspecialty HS clinic at the University of North Carolina Department of Dermatology from April 2014 to December 2018. Data analysis was performed from January to September 2021.

Clinic-based deroofing and excisional procedures performed as part of routine care.

The primary outcomes were patient-reported recurrence of HS at the site of surgery, patient satisfaction with the procedures and outcomes, and patient-reported pain and recovery associated with surgery obtained from electronic medical record review and patient questionnaires.

Outcomes of 194 procedures for 78 patients (65 [83%] female; mean [SD] age, 35.1 [12.1] years) were analyzed. Self-reported rate of recurrence was 41% (79 procedures). Despite recurrence, most patients (148 procedures [76%]) were very satisfied with their surgical results. The median number of missed days of work or school was 2 (IQR, 1-7 days), and the median number of days until return to normal activity was 10 (IQR, 3-14 days). In addition, for 126 of the 194 procedures (65%), patients stated that pain during an HS flare was worse than pain during surgical recovery.

In this cohort study, patients reported high rates of satisfaction with clinic-based HS surgery. Recovery was typically rapid, with most patients rating postsurgical pain as less severe than their HS pain.