Effect of gentamicin-absorbed collagen in wound healing in pilonidal sinus surgery: a prospective randomized study

Pilonidal sinus is a common disease that causes the loss of many working hours, but treatment is variable and problematic. The effect of gentamicin-absorbed collagen on healing, infection and recurrence, and length of hospital stay were examined after pilonidal sinus surgery. Patients undergoing surgical treatment for pilonidal sinus were randomly assigned into two groups each of 40 patients. Both groups were treated with excision and primary closure under local anaesthesia. Group 1 (control) received oral antibiotics for 7 days post-operatively. In group 2, prior to wound closure, gentamicin-absorbed collagen sponges were placed on the sacral fascia and these patients did not receive oral post-operative antibiotic therapy. Patients in group 2 had a significantly shorter mean wound healing time, significantly lower infection and recurrence rates, and a significantly shorter hospital stay than those in group 1. It is concluded that implantation of a gentamicin-containing collagen sponge on the wound area in pilonidal sinus decreased the rates of infection and recurrence, and shortened the hospital stay.