Outcomes of minimally invasive endoscopic pilonidal sinus surgery

Pilonidal disease is a common condition that is often treated with morbid and painful surgeries. A minimally invasive, endoscopic approach has been described as an alternative to traditional open procedures. It allows the full visualization of the sinus tracks, leaves minimal scarring and results in less pain and a quicker recovery.

Patients who underwent minimally invasive endoscopic surgery for pilonidal disease at a major metropolitan hospital in Australia were retrospectively identified. Their operative reports and medical records were assessed to determine analgesic requirements, lengths of hospital stay, recurrence rates of pilonidal disease, and wound complications.

Nine patients had endoscopic sinus surgery (six male, three female). All patients received treatment from the same surgeon. No patients required opiate analgesia for pain and only one stayed post-operatively in hospital overnight. There were no recorded wound complications. The median follow-up period was 28 months (range, 8-36 months). Eight patients had satisfactory healing recorded during their post-operative consultations. Three patients suffered recurrent disease.

Minimally invasive surgery is safe and well tolerated when employed to treat pilonidal disease. It could be considered as a first-line treatment for the obliteration of symptomatic pilonidal sinuses.