Establishment of standardized definitions and a core set of outcome characteristics following hidradenitis suppurativa surgery developed by an expert Delphi consensus

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition often requiring surgical intervention for definitive treatment. Previous studies evaluated postsurgical outcomes, but no standardization exists for collection and nomenclature for HS surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize and define surgical outcome terminology.

METHODS: A modified Delphi protocol was used to reach consensus on data to collect and terms to describe outcomes following HS surgical procedures. A five-member steering committee created preliminary definitions and surveys, which were distributed via Qualtrics to a group of international HS experts. A nine-point Likert scale was used, and a score of at least 7 was needed for an item to reach agreement.

RESULTS: Twenty-five dermatologists and general and plastic surgeons participated in the Delphi study. Following 2 rounds of surveys and feedback, the consensus terminology to describe outcomes included surgical site and regional persistence and progression. Consensus was also reached on key features to report as part of each outcome.

LIMITATIONS: Limitations include narrow scope and small number of participants from limited geographical areas.

CONCLUSION: Surgery persistence and progression definitions were agreed upon by a group of international HS experts. This consensus is a first step toward standardizing terminology and reporting for HS surgical outcomes.