Hidradenitis suppurativa--a clinical review.

A retrospective review of 72 patients suffering from hidradenitis suppurativa treated surgically in one plastic surgery unit has been carried out. Treatment of the axilla by excision and suture was found to result in a high rate (54%) of reoperation for recurrence at the same site when compared to the groups treated by either excision and split skin grafting (13%) or excision and local flap cover (19%). It is recommended that axillary hidradenitis suppurativa is best treated surgically by excision of the affected skin and split skin grafting of the resultant defect.