Pilonidal sinus disease can be treated with crystallized phenol using a simple three-step technique.

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Dermatologic Surgery

Background:

• Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) necessitates effective treatment options.
• Traditional surgical methods for PSD involve risks like infection and prolonged healing.
• Minimally invasive approaches offer potential advantages in patient recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a simple, three-step technique for treating pilonidal sinus disease using crystallized phenol.
• To evaluate the efficacy and recovery associated with crystallized phenol treatment for PSD.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 50 patients (43 male, 7 female) with PSD underwent treatment.
• The technique involved gentle hair removal from sinus openings followed by filling with crystallized phenol.
• Treatment was administered between August 2014 and January 2016.

Main Results:

• Healing was defined as the closure of sinus openings without leakage after one application.
• The overall cure rate for pilonidal sinus disease was 88%.
• Treatment failure occurred in 2 female patients with prior surgery and 4 male patients with recurrence.

Conclusions:

• The three-step crystallized phenol technique is a simple, fast, and comfortable method for treating pilonidal sinus disease.
• Crystallized phenol should be considered a primary treatment option for pilonidal sinus disease.
• This minimally invasive approach offers a shorter postoperative recovery period compared to traditional surgeries.