Postoperative outcomes of Bascom cleft lift for pilonidal disease: A single-center experience

Limited data exists regarding outcomes for the Bascom cleft lift procedure for pilonidal disease.

Single-center retrospective review of patients who underwent a Bascom cleft lift from 2013 to 2018. Univariate analysis was performed to determine associations between patient-specific characteristics and post-operative complications. Postoperative complications were categorized as major or minor. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of postoperative complications.

235 patients were included. Forty-five percent were obese and 24% were active smokers. Minor complications occurred in 34.5% (81); major complications occurred in 19.1% (45). The recurrence rate was 4.7% (11). Smoking was not associated with postoperative complications. Obesity was independently associated with higher rates of both minor (OR 2.6, p = 0.001) and major (OR 2.3, p = 0.001) complications.

Wound complications are common after Bascom cleft lift. Obesity is an independent predictor of postoperative complications. Obese patients should be appropriately counseled regarding their increased risk prior to surgery.