BACKGROUND: Axillary osmidrosis (AO) is common in plastic surgery. But there is no perfect way to treat AO. We systematically compared the efficacy of 10 AO treatments with network meta-analysis in order to provide reference for the clinical treatment of axillary odor.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Chinese and English databases were searched by computer. Some relevant studies were collected for network meta-analysis.

RESULTS: We identified 56 studies, including a total of 8618 patients for meta-analysis. The network meta-analysis showed that 21 out of 45 pairs of 10 AO treatments had no statistical significance. In statistical comparison, subcutaneous curettage and swelling suction subcutaneous pruning were better than a single treatment. In addition, the effects of both laser and electric ion therapy were inferior to those of other treatments. The order of therapeutic effects predicted by surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA), curve was swelling aspiration+subcutaneous pruning >subcutaneous pruning >subcutaneous curettage+subcutaneous pruning >spindle excision >botulinum toxin A injection >swelling aspiration >subcutaneous curettage >YAG laser therapy >CO2 laser therapy >electric ion therapy.

CONCLUSIONS: In operative treatment of AO, swelling aspiration+subcutaneous pruning is the best operative treatment, and botulinum toxin A injection is the best in non-operative treatment. Overall, the effect of surgical treatment was more significant than that of non-surgical treatment.

Keywords: Surgical Procedures, Operative, Apocrine Glands, Axilla, Botulinum Toxins, Type A, Curettage, Network Meta-Analysis, odorants, Patient Satisfaction, Quality of Life, Sweat Gland Diseases, Sweating