Pilonidal sinus treated with crystallized phenol: an eight-year experience

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Dermatological Procedures
• Outpatient Treatment Modalities

Background:

• Pilonidal disease is a common condition requiring effective outpatient management.
• Current treatments may involve significant recovery times and work absence.
• Minimally invasive and cost-effective solutions are sought for pilonidal sinus treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of crystallized phenol in the outpatient treatment of pilonidal disease.
• To assess the impact of crystallized phenol on patient recovery time and recurrence rates.
• To determine if sinus characteristics influence treatment outcomes with crystallized phenol.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 41 patients treated for pilonidal disease in an outpatient surgery clinic.
• Data collected included patient demographics, sinus characteristics, and recovery time.
• Analysis focused on the relationship between recovery time and factors like sinus openings, abscess presence, and sinus status (acute/chronic).

Main Results:

• Crystallized phenol was applied 107 times across 41 patients, with most requiring 2-3 applications.
• The mean recovery time was 42.7 days (range: 13-120 days).
• A high success rate of 95.1% was observed, with only two recurrences noted within the follow-up period. Sinus characteristics did not significantly affect recovery time.

Conclusions:

• Crystallized phenol offers a simple, inexpensive, and effective outpatient treatment for pilonidal disease.
• This method demonstrates a low recurrence rate and minimizes patient work absence.
• Crystallized phenol is proposed as a first-line treatment option for all types of pilonidal sinus.