Portable VAC therapy improve the results of the treatment of the pilonidal sinus--randomized prospective study

Multiple therapeutic approaches of the treatment of pilonidal sinuses have been described in the literature, but there are still controversies and lack of standardization. Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) therapy has potential beneficial effect on the wound healing after the sinus resection.

To analyze the results of VAC therapy in the treatment of pilonidal sinuses.

After randomization in the control group (9 men) the simple excision of the pilonidal cyst was performed with the standard wound dressing. In the VAC group (10 men) the same surgical procedure was performed, but after the excision the VAC dressing with mobile VAC Freedom device was used. Both groups were treated in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia. The wound size, time of surgery, time of wound healing time of recovery and pain after the surgery (VAS score) were compared.

In VAC treated group the wound size and time of surgery were similar to control group. Time of wound healing, recovery and the pain after surgery in days 4-7 were reduced in comparison to the standard treated group.

VAC therapy can be easily used in an outpatient setting, mobile device is highly accepted, operation of the equipment is simple. VAC therapy significantly decreases the time of wound healing and absenteeism from work as well as the postoperative late pain.