Wound Closure with Transcutaneous Absorbable Polyglactin Sutures after Hidradenitis Suppurativa Excision
Carolyn Drogt1, Philip Hanwright, Michael Ha
1At the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America, Carolyn Drogt, MHS, is Medical Student, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery; Philip Hanwright, MD, is Plastic Surgery Resident, Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery; Michael Ha, MA Cantab MB BChirc, is Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery; Ledibabari M. Ngaage, MA Cantab MB BChirc, is Plastic Surgery Intern, Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery; and Mary Lin, BS, Shealinna Ge, MD, Yinglun Wu, MD, Ronald P. Silverman, MD, and Yvonne M. Rasko, MD, are Medical Students, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery. The authors have disclosed no financial relationships related to this article. Submitted February 4, 2021; accepted in revised form April 12, 2021.
Absorbable sutures are suitable for closing surgical wounds in severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) patients. This study found a 17.8% complication rate, supporting their use in HS treatment.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) requires wide surgical excision.
- HS wounds present challenges: non-sterile, moist, and under tension, increasing complication risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of absorbable, braided, transcutaneous polyglactin sutures for skin closure after wide surgical excision of HS.
- To compare outcomes with nonabsorbable sutures, though not directly studied here.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of consecutive HS patients undergoing wide surgical excision.
- Data collected from January 2009 to March 2020 at a tertiary university hospital.
Main Results:
- 174 operative sites across 60 patients were analyzed.
- Overall surgical site complication rate was 17.8%, including wound dehiscence, infection, and scar contracture.
- Complications were associated with Hurley grade and excision area, not disease location.
Conclusions:
- Absorbable sutures are an appropriate option for skin closure in HS surgical excisions.
- Findings support the increasing evidence base for absorbable suture use in HS management.
