Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa Report Long-Term Satisfaction Post-Surgery

Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a progressive, recurrent inflammatory disorder, who underwent surgical management reported positive long-term satisfaction and postoperative perceptions.  HS surgical management should be considered by future patients to limit the morbidity of HS, according to recent research published in Dermatologic Surgery. 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RELATED CONTENT
Study Explores Coping Strategies of Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Is Ultrasound Diagnosis and Staging Useful in Pediatric Hidradenitis Suppurativa?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Researchers assessed surgical outcomes, satisfaction and quality of life in patients with HS. Four hundred and ninety nine HS surgical participants received a mailed questionnaire. Of the total questionnaires mailed to patients, 113 were returned, and 2 were excluded for redundancy (22.6% response rate). The 111 respondents included:

  • 65 (58.6%) females;
  • 91 (82.0%) patients who had Hurley Stage III disease;
  • 88 (79.3%) who were treated with excision, and 23 (20.7%) who were treated with unroofing;
  • 45 (40.5%) had perianal or perineal disease; and,
  • 41 (36.9%) had axillary disease.

Nearly 85% of surveyed participants said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their surgical results, while 96% indicated that they were glad they underwent surgery; and, 82% would recommend surgery to a friend or relative. In addition, 62% of surveyed participants said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the appearance of their healed wound.

Retrospective mean quality of life increased significantly from 5 preoperatively to 8.4 postoperatively (P<.001), concluded the researchers.

Reference:

Kohorst JJ, Baum CL, Otley CC, et al. Patient satisfaction and quality of life following surgery for hidradenitis suppurativa [published online September 23, 2016]. Dermatologic Surgery. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000000942.