Pain Outcomes after Surgical Excision in Hidradenitis Suppurativa and the Role of Ultrasonography
Aslı TatlıparmakBACKGROUND
Pain is an important clinical feature of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and contributes substantially to disease burden, yet pain outcomes after surgical excision remain insufficiently characterized.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to quantify pain reduction after surgical excision and explore factors associated with residual postoperative pain, including ultrasonographic findings.
PATIENTS AND METHODS/MATERIALS
The authors retrospectively evaluated consecutive patients undergoing local excision at a tertiary dermatologic surgery unit from May 2024 to May 2025. Pain was assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before surgery and at 6 months. Tunnel extent was measured by palpation and high-frequency ultrasonography.
RESULTS
Eighty-three patients with 194 lesions were included. The mean VAS decreased from 6.9 to 0.9 (mean difference, 6.0; 95% CI, 5.8–6.2;
CONCLUSION
Surgical excision was associated with substantial pain reduction across HS severity levels. The ultrasonographic–palpation discrepancy showed only a weak association with residual postoperative pain and should be considered a secondary, exploratory finding rather than an individual predictor of outcome.