Application of the free-style brachial artery perforator based propellar flap in the management of axillary hidradenitis suppurativa.

Abstract

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disease often requiring surgical intervention in extensive lesions. Total of seven axillary lesion with HS was treated with free-style perforator based propeller flaps (innominate perforator originating from the brachial artery) after complete excision. The flap design mimicked the axis and design of the brachioplasty surgery. The flaps were elevated and after obliterating the defect, the remnant flap was discarded and donor site was primarily closed. All flaps were performed successfully and HS did not recur in any of the patients. In addition, the operated limb also showed a reduction of arm circumference of more than 5cm. This is the first report using the free-style perforator based propeller flap to reconstruct the axillary HS. It is a simple and a reliable approach yielding good functional and aesthetic outcome with additional advantages of providing a brachioplasty.