Cleft closure for the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease

Treatments for pilonidal sinus disease are numerous and prone to failure. In complex disease, the morbidity is high. In contrast with complex operations, the cleft closure procedure can be done simply and successfully with better cosmetic results. We present the results of a single-centre experience of this procedure.

One hundred and fifty patients had the operation; most were treated as a day case and many were operated under local anaesthetic.

Primary healing occurred in 83 (60%) of 139 patients. Recurrences requiring surgery have been seen in 5.3%. The long-term cosmetic appearance has been noted to approach normality.

Cleft closure is a simple and highly effective operation to treat recurrent or extensive pilonidal sinus disease.