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CC BY-NC 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2017; 44(03): 228-233
DOI: 10.5999/aps.2017.44.3.228
Original Article

Axillary Reconstruction for Hidradenitis Suppurativa with an Inner-Arm Transposition Flap Creating a Brachioplasty Effect

Daniel L. Ching 
Department of Anatomical Pathology, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Perth, Australia
,
Maleeha Mughal
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
,
Athanasios Papas
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
,
Mark Soldin
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kingston Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
› Author AffiliationsThis article was presented 12th European Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Congress, 8 July 2014, Edinburgh, UK.
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Background Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin condition that can affect any area with apocrine sweat glands and has the potential to involve multiple sites concurrently. Commonly affected sites include the axilla, groin, perineum and perianal areas. In this study we performed a literature review on the surgical methods for HS and describe an innovative technique for reconstructing axilla HS using an inner-arm transposition flap.

Methods We reviewed all cases (5 cases from 4 patients) of transposition flap reconstruction performed by the senior author at a single London tertiary hospital from 2008–2013. Patient related outcome measures were collected using the Derriford appearance scale (DAS 24) and a study specific questionnaire.

Results All patients were satisfied with their final result. One out of five cases had a complication but did not result in flap failure. There is no disease recurrence to date. DAS 24 scores collected demonstrated acceptable postoperative distress that did not deviate far from the norm tables while study specific questionnaire reveal desirable outcomes.

Conclusions We have managed to achieve our aim through the use of the innovative inner-arm transposition flap. Our study hopes to provide an additional technique for axillary reconstruction. This technique offers the effective concealment of scars with the benefit of tightening of the arm tissue producing ‘brachioplasty like’ effects. All things considered it would be reasonable to conclude the innovative flap technique is a reliable, effective, and simple method that results in multiple benefits.

Keywords

Hidradenitis suppurativa - Axilla - Surgical flap


Publication History

Received: 09 August 2016

Accepted: 14 December 2016

Article published online:
20 April 2022

© 2017. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, permitting unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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