Comparison of the effectiveness and safety between ramicotomy and sympathetic chain interruption in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: This meta-analysis evaluates the effectiveness and safety of ramicotomy versus sympathetic chain interruption (SCI) in treating primary hyperhidrosis (PH).

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang, covering studies from their inception through October 2024. A total of 10 studies involving 970 patients were included, with 504 patients undergoing ramicotomy and 466 receiving SCI.

Results: The analysis revealed that patients undergoing ramicotomy experienced significantly lower rates of compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) [odds ratio (OR) 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.85, P = 0.02], severe CH (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.06, 0.47, P < 0.001), and postoperative hand dryness (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.01-0.72, P = 0.02), along with a higher recurrence rate (OR 4.03, 95% CI 2.38, 6.85, P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in operative duration [mean difference (MD) = 0.19, 95% CI -18.23, 18.60, P = 0.98 > 0.05], length of hospital stay (MD = -0.08, 95% CI -0.19, 0.04, P = 0.20 > 0.05), total postoperative complications (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.07, 2.34, P = 0.32 > 0.05), or surgical satisfaction (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.45, 1.91, P = 0.83 > 0.05).

Conclusions: While ramicotomy results in lower incidences of CH and postoperative hand dryness, its higher recurrence rate suggests that its application should be cautious to manage PH effectively.

Keywords: Compensatory hyperhidrosis; Meta-analysis; Primary hyperhidrosis; Ramicotomy; Sympathetic chain interruption.