Surgical therapy for pilonidal sinus in adolescents: a retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Clinical Research
• Surgical Management

Background:

• Pilonidal sinus (PS) is less common in pre-adolescent and adolescent populations.
• Obesity and elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) are increasingly recognized as risk factors for PS.
• Factors like significant body hair and prolonged sitting also predispose individuals to PS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the optimal surgical management for pilonidal sinus (PS) in adolescents.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of different surgical techniques in this age group.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 25 adolescent patients with PS disease.
• Data collected from Selcuk University, Department of Pediatric Surgery (2010-2013).
• Surgical interventions included total excision with primary closure and Limberg flap repair.

Main Results:

• The study included 17 males (68%) and 8 females (32%), with a mean age of 16.08 years.
• 17 patients (68%) had a normal BMI; 4 (16%) were overweight, and 4 (16%) were obese.
• Total excision and primary closure were performed in 80% of cases (20 patients), with 20% (5 patients) undergoing Limberg flap repair.

Conclusions:

• Total excision and primary closure demonstrated successful outcomes for adolescent pilonidal sinus.
• Elevated BMI is a significant and growing concern as a risk factor for PS in adolescents.
• Optimal surgical management should consider patient BMI, sinus size, and history of recurrence.