Axillary Osmidrosis Treatment Using an Aggressive Suction–Curettage Technique: A Clinical Study on Paired Control

Background Axillary osmidrosis results in social and psychological problems. Liposuction-assisted techniques used as treatments have been reported to have high recurrence rates. This study aims at introducing the aggressive suction–curettage technique in comparison to the open excision procedure. Methods From February 2009 to February 2014, 130 patients were randomly divided into two groups (experimental and control groups). The experimental group was treated with aggressive suction–curettage, while the control group was treated with an open excision. Postoperative assessment (skin necrosis, hematoma, scars and malodour recurrence) and patient satisfaction were surveyed and analyzed. Results A lower necrosis rate was observed in patients who received aggressive suction–curettage (1.88 %, p < 0.01), higher patient satisfaction (33.85 %, p < 0.01), higher recurrence rate (11.54 %, p < 0.05), and less ugly scars (0.77 %, p < 0.01), compared to those who had the open excision procedure. Conclusions The aggressive suction–curettage technique appears to be a reliable treatment option for axillary osmidrosis. Level of Evidence II This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .