Efficacy of procedural treatments for pediatric hidradenitis suppurativa: A systematic review

Abstract

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a painful, inflammatory skin disease that has historically been understudied in the pediatric population. Procedural interventions, such as surgical excisions, skin grafts, and lasers, are important for comprehensive HS disease management. However, there is a lack of data on procedural treatments for HS in pediatric patients. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the efficacy and safety of procedural treatments for HS in pediatric patients. In April 2022, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for articles on the efficacy of procedural treatments for HS in patients <18 years of age. Two independent reviewers extracted data from relevant studies. From 1974 to 2021, 23 articles with 81 patients were identified. Patients' Hurley stages included stage I (9.1%, 1/11), II (36.4%, 4/11), and III (54.5%, 6/11). The most extensively studied procedural interventions include negative pressure wound therapy (n = 30), surgical excision with skin graft/flap (n = 19),and endoscopic electrode or laser treatment (n = 11). In all, promising response rates for procedural management strategies were observed in the literature but the findings were largely based on case reports/series. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), especially those geared toward minimally invasive procedural treatments, are needed to help guide clinicians on the most efficacious treatment modalities for pediatric patients with HS.

A Retrospective Review of Laser Therapy for Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

“…7,11 There is a wide array of treatments for HS, ranging from topical, intralesional, systemic, and surgical. 1,3,6,8,[12][13][14][15] The severity of the disease assessed by the Hurley score dictates the treatment methods for HS. Currently, the most novel therapy is the use of laser therapy, including Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm), Alexandrite laser, or a combination of multiple laser therapies, to create a localized treatment without systemic adverse effects.…”