Pediatric Endoscopic Hidradenitis Treatment: A New Minimally Invasive Treatment for Pediatric Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa

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

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.

Evaluation of a New Tubular Finger Oxygen-Enriched Oil Inside-Coated Dressing Device in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Distal Hypospadias Repair: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial Part II

Background: This study was the second part of a prospective randomized clinical trial and aimed to evaluate the use of a tubular finger oxygen-enriched oil inside-coated dressing device and its effect on the post-operative outcome of children undergoing distal hypospadias repair. Methods: A prospective single-blinded randomized clinical trial was carried out between September 2019 and September 2020. We included all patients with distal hypospadias, who received Snodgrass urethroplasty and preputioplasty. The patients were randomized in two groups according to the type of dressing: tubular finger oxygen-enriched oil inside-coated device (G1) and elastic net bandage with application of oxygen-enriched oil-based gel (G2). The patients were evaluated at 7, 14, 21, 30, and 60 post-operative day (POD). Results: Sixty-four patients (median age 14 months) were included in the study and randomized in two groups, each of 32 patients. Post-operative preputial edema rate was significantly lower in G1 (3/32, 9.3%) compared with G2 (10/32, 31.2%) (p = 0.001). The median duration of preputial edema was significantly shorter in G1 compared with G2 (6 vs. 10.5 days) (p = 0.001). Penile diameter measurements at 4th, 7th, 14th POD proved that entity and duration of post-operative swelling were objectively decreased using the new dressing. The wound healing was significantly faster in G1 compared with G2 (14.2 vs. 18.5 days) (p = 0.001). The post-operative complications rate was significantly lower in G1 (0%) compared with G2 (3/32, 9.3%) (p = 0.001). Foreskin dehiscence occurred in two G2 patients (6.2%) whereas, breakdown of urethroplasty and preputioplasty occurred in one G2 patient (3.1%) due to scratching injuries. The dressing management was subjectively assessed by nurses to be easier in G1 patients compared with G2 ones (median score 1.2 vs. 3.5) (p = 0.001). The median treatment costs were significantly lower in G1 compared with G2 (55 vs. 87 eur) (p = 0.001). No adverse skin reactions occurred. Conclusions: Post-operative dressing using tubular finger oxygen-enriched oil inside-coated device was highly effective, easy to manage, cheaper and associated with a lower rate of foreskin and urethral complications compared with the standard dressing method in pediatric patients undergoing distal hypospadias repair. It was also clinically safe without allergy or intolerance to the product.

Evaluation of efficacy of oxygen-enriched oil-based gel dressing in patients who underwent surgical repair of distal hypospadias: a prospective randomised clinical trial

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oxygen-enriched oil-based gel dressing on wound healing and postoperative outcome in children who underwent distal hypospadias repair.

Methods

We included all patients with distal hypospadias, who underwent Snodgrass urethroplasty and preputioplasty over an 18-months period. The patients were randomized in two groups according to the type of medication: oxygen-enriched oil-based gel (G1) and hyaluronic acid cream (G2). After discharge, parents changed the dressing twice a day for 2–3 weeks postoperatively. The patients were evaluated at 7, 14, 21, 30, 60 and 180 postoperative days and thereafter annually.

Results

One-hundred and fourteen patients (median age 18 months) were included in the study and randomized in two groups, each of 57 patients. The wound healing was significantly faster in G1 compared with G2 (p = 0.001). G1 reported significantly higher SWAS and modified HOPE scores compared with G2 (p = 0.001) at all steps of follow-up. No adverse skin reactions occurred. Foreskin dehiscence and re-operations rates were significantly lower in G1 compared with G2 (p = 0.001). Postoperative foreskin retractability was better in G1, with a significantly higher incidence of secondary phimosis in G2 (p = 0.001). The median treatment costs were significantly lower in G1 compared with G2 (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Postoperative dressing using oxygen-enriched oil-based gel was highly effective, promoting a faster wound healing in patients who underwent distal hypospadias repair. It reported a lower incidence of foreskin dehiscence and better foreskin retractability compared with the control group. It was cost-effective and clinically safe without allergy or intolerance to the product.

Hidradenitis suppurativa in paediatric patients: a retrospective monocentric study in Germany and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, recurrent, debilitating skin disease of the hair follicle affecting apocrine glands-rich areas of the body. The disease usually occurs after puberty leading to painful nodules, abscesses, tunnels and scarring. Although uncommonly, HS can also occur in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to describe the epidemiology, characteristics, predisposing factors and clinical course of HS in paediatric patients.

METHODS

The retrospective cohort study included patients with HS, who have been diagnosed in Dessau Medical Center and reported development of HS during childhood or adolescence, fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for HS and had a follow-up period of at least one year. A systematic review was conducted on MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL on 19 March 2020 using the terms 'hidradenitis' or 'acne inversa' together with the terms 'children', 'paediatric' and 'adolescence'.

RESULTS

Twenty paediatric patients [1 child (0.22%), 19 adolescents (4.25%)] were detected out of 447 patients evaluated (4.5%) with a male to female ratio of 1.86 : 1. The median age at diagnosis was 17 years [interquartile range (IQR) 16-18] and the median age at onset 15 years (IQR: 14-16.5). The majority of the patients suffered from moderate disease were overweight or obese and non-smokers. The most common comorbid disorder was acne vulgaris. The systematic review revealed reports with data heterogeneity and lack of systematic documentation of specific demographic characteristics. Most paediatric patients were female, obese and non-smokers, with considerable comorbid disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Hidradenitis suppurativa in Germany may affect children and adolescents exhibiting a particular phenotype of mainly male non-smokers.

Pediatric Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment (PEPSiT) in Children With Pilonidal Sinus Disease: Tips and Tricks and New Structurated Protocol

Background: The advent of pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (PEPSiT) has dramatically changed the surgical management of pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) in children and adolescents. This study aimed to report the outcome of our new structurated protocol, including PEPSiT, laser epilation, and oxygen-enriched oil-based gel dressing, for treatment of PSD in pediatric patients and describe tips and tricks of the technique. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 127 pediatric patients, who underwent PEPSiT for PSD in our institutions over a 36-month period. All patients received laser epilation (LE) before and after surgery. Post-operative dressing was performed using silver sulfadiazine spray and in the last 18 months oxygen-enriched oil-based gel. We divided the patients in two groups according to the protocol adopted: G1 (laser + oxygen-enriched oil-based gel dressing) included 72 patients and G2 (laser + silver sulfadiazine spray dressing) included 55 patients. The two groups were compared regarding success rate, recurrence, wound infection rate, wound healing time, post-operative outcome, time to full daily activities and patient satisfaction. Results: No difference emerged between the two groups regarding the average operative time, the average post-operative pain score, the average analgesic requirement, the average hospitalization and the average time to full daily activities (p = 0.33). No intra- or post-operative complications including wound infection occurred in both groups. The patients required an average number of 7 LE sessions (range 4-10) to achieve complete hair removal. The overall success rate was significantly higher in G1 (n = 71, 98.6%) compared with G2 (n = 50, 90.9%) [p = 0.001]. The recurrence rate was also significantly lower in G1 (n = 1, 1.4%) compared with G2 (n = 5, 9%) [p = 0.001]. Furthermore, G1 reported a faster wound healing (average 21 days) compared with G2 (average 29 days) [p = 0.001] and a higher patient satisfaction score (average 4.9) compared with G2 (average 4.2) [p = 0.001]. Conclusions: Based upon our experience, PEPSiT may be considered the standard of care for surgical treatment of PSD in children and adolescents. Our new structurated protocol consisting of pre-operative LE, PEPSiT, and post-operative wound management with oxygen-enriched oil-based gel dressing and LE, allowed to achieve an excellent outcome, with a success rate > 98%.