Surgical Management of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Narrative Review

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a debilitating, chronic, dermatological inflammatory skin disease that affects apocrine gland bearing skin in the axillae, groin, and inframammary regions. It is underdiagnosed and its pathogenesis incompletely understood. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the existing literature on the surgical management of HS, focusing upon outcomes of definitive surgery.

A literature search was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for original studies pertaining to the surgical management of HS published from January 1970 to July 2020. A total of 33 papers were included for analysis.

Management options include risk factor modification, pharmacological agents, and surgical intervention. Many surgical management techniques exist, including incision and drainage, CO₂ laser therapy, deroofing, wide local excision, and reconstructive surgery. Incision and drainage is commonly utilized for symptom relief of sepsis. While data on curative surgical management are lacking, studies on surgical approaches have shown favorable outcomes in highly selected cases.Wide excision with flap reconstruction results in high patient satisfaction rates, good cosmesis, and reduced disease recurrence.

A small number of suitable papers met our specific focus and inclusion and exclusion criteria. Novel techniques described in case studies were missed. Additionally, this study examined HS management as a whole, but region-specific management was not reviewed closely.

The success of surgical management is dependent on multiple factors. Thus far, the precise role of surgery in elective treatment of refractory HS requires further analysis and reporting of outcomes.