Incise and lay open: an effective procedure for coccygeal pilonidal sinus disease

This study aims to analyze the outcome of various procedures performed for coccygeal pilonidal disease.

Between January 1999 and February 2004, patients with coccygeal pilonidal disease were included. Data were analyzed for the nature of operation (elective/emergency), grade of surgeon, type of procedure and further definitive surgery.

Two hundred and four patients underwent surgery for coccygeal pilonidal disease. One hundred and thirty-six patients had emergency surgery (abscess drainage: 61; abscess drainage + lay open: 75) and further definitive procedure was performed in 20 (33.3%) and 8 (11.1%) patients, respectively (P = 0.013, Fishers' exact test). Sixty-eight patients had elective surgery (incision and lay open: 34; excision and lay open: 24; excision and closure/Bascom's/other: 10) and further procedure for recurrence was noted among 3 (8.8%), 5 (20.8%) and 4 (40%) patients, respectively (P = 0.17, chi(2) test).

In patients with coccygeal pilonidal sinus disease, a single-stage incision and lay open of the sinus tract is the most efficient operation, especially during emergency surgery.