Novel surgical use of electrosurgical tip cleaners in subdermal excision for axillary osmidrosis

Abstract

Background Axillary osmidrosis is a disease characterized by axillary malodor. The conventional treatment method of subdermal excision uses Metzenbaum scissors. Recently, subdermal excision using the Versajet system was introduced. However, it is an expensive surgical tool, and a recent study demonstrated a higher frequency of axillary skin necrosis with the Versajet. We propose a novel, cost-effective, and safe subdermal excision method that utilizes an electrosurgical tip cleaner (ETC).Methods Our retrospective cohort study included 27 patients who underwent subdermal excision from June 2012 to November 2021. The patients were classified into three groups according to the surgical method: Metzenbaum scissors, Versajet, and ETC. The operation time, hospitalization cost, and postoperative complications were investigated.Results The number of patients in the Metzenbaum scissors, Versajet, and ETC groups was seven, eleven, and nine, respectively. The mean operation time and hospitalization cost were significantly different among the three groups (P<0.05). The longest mean operation time was observed in the Metzenbaum scissors group (112.9±23.6 minutes), followed by the ETC and Versajet groups (76.4±27.1 and 64.2±24.8 minutes, respectively). The most expensive method was the Versajet ($2,346.1±517.7), followed by the ETC and Metzenbaum scissors ($1,391.8±317.7 and $1,279.6±287.5, respectively). No postoperative complications were observed.Conclusions The ETC is a novel method of subdermal excision, comparable to Metzenbaum scissors or Versajet. Therefore, it is recommended for situations where it is necessary to consider both the time and cost of surgery.