A new surgical approach for pilonidal sinus disease: “de-epithelialization technique’’

Abstract

Objective: In the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease different approaches are used such as conservative treatmentand fasciocutaneous rotation flap. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of “de-epithelialization technique”as a new approach in pilonidal sinus disease treatment.Material and Methods: Forty pilonidal sinus disease patients treated with de-epithelialization method were evaluated retrospectively.Patient age, gender, body mass index, wound healing time, visual analog scale scores, operation times, hospitalstay duration, drain removal time, cosmetic satisfaction rates, complications, and recurrence rates were evaluated.Results: The numbers of male and female patients in this study were 39 and 1, respectively. The median age ofthe patients was 25 years and the mean BMI was 26.6. The mean operating time was 43 min, and all patients weredischarged 5 h after the operation. Wound healing time varied from 10 to 20 days. Median follow-up period was 9months (4-17 months). One patient with high body mass index suffered from partial wound separation. No othercomplications such as infections and fluid collections (hematoma and seromas) were observed. Maximum cosmeticsatisfaction rate was 90% (n=36), and no patient had a recurrence during the follow-up period.Conclusion: “De-epithelialization” may be considered as a complementary and/or alternative approach to othersurgical techniques such as primary closure, rhomboid excision, and Limberg flap in the treatment of pilonidal sinusdisease, with acceptable cosmesis and recurrence rates.