Hidradenitis suppurativa: Importance of early treatment; Efficient treatment with electrosurgery

BACKGROUND Hidradenitis suppurativa is a challenging condition, both for the physicians and for the patients. Many surgical and medical approaches with different success rates have been undertaken. Early and appropriate intervention is a factor that significantly increases the success rate of the treatment of the disease. OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of electrosurgery treatment in early hidradenitis suppurativa. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study comprised 12 patients aged between 29 and 38 years (mean, 34 years) with a diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa Grade I (n=9) or Grade II (n=3). A surgical method consisted of excision of the areas with nodules and sinuses, up to the level of subcutaneous fat tissue, and leaving the surgical defect for secondary healing. RESULTS All patients completed the study. In 10 of 12 (83%) patients, 26 of 30 (86%) lesions, cure was observed in a mean of 16 days (range 15 to 21 days). Four lesions in 2 patients with Grade II became infected and required a short course of antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSION Electrosurgery will decrease the need for other systemic treatments, owing to its high cure rates. Our results showed that electrosurgery should be considered a top alternative in the treatment algorithm of hidradenitis suppurativa.