title: Promising long-term outcomes of the reused skin-graft technique for chronic gluteal hidradenitis suppurativa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reused skin-graft technique can be used to treat chronic gluteal hidradenitis suppurativa, but long-term outcomes and the reliability of the technique have not been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective review of 18 men with chronic gluteal hidradenitis suppurativa (age range, 18-68 years) treated with a reused skin graft between June 2004 and March 2012, we evaluated disease severity (Hurley classification system), skin-graft thickness, the need for an additional normal skin graft, histological findings and recurrence rate at the surgical site.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean duration of follow-up was 61.3 months (range, 17-113 months). Five cases were classified into severity group I, 12 cases into severity group II and one case into severity group III. The range of skin-graft thicknesses was 0.013-0.020 inches. An additional donor site was unnecessary in 10 cases (three cases in group I (60%) and seven cases in group II (58.3%)). Histological examination indicated that a buried epidermal cyst could cause chronic gluteal hidradenitis suppurativa recurrence, although none of the patients experienced recurrence at the surgical site during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reused skin-graft technique is reliable for chronic gluteal hidradenitis suppurativa resection, and it shows promising long-term outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Hokkaido at Sapporo, Kita-15 Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan. Electronic address: takumaeda1105@yellow.plala.or.jp.
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hakodate General Central, Hospital at Hakodate, 33-2 Honmachi, Hakodate City, Hokkaido 041-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Chu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Hokkaido at Sapporo, Kita-15 Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murao
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hakodate General Central, Hospital at Hakodate, 33-2 Honmachi, Hakodate City, Hokkaido 041-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Kikuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002081:Buttocks / Q000601:surgery; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D017497:Hidradenitis Suppurativa / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chronic gluteal hidradenitis suppurativa; Hurley classification system; Long-term outcomes; Recurrence; Reused skin-graft technique