Partial Gluteus Muscle Flap for Treatment of Chronic, Recalcitrant Pilonidal Cyst Disease

Pilonidal cyst disease is a challenging condition requiring excision and wound management when it is chronic and symptomatic. Primary closure of the excision site can lead to high recurrence rates, necessitating flap-based reconstruction. This article discusses the use of a partial gluteus maximus muscle flap to address recurrent pilonidal disease and reduce its recurrence.

From 2014 to 2021, 11 patients aged 14-31 with recurrent pilonidal cysts underwent two-stage surgery involving excision and wound debridement by general surgery, followed by plastic surgery for wound closure using the partial gluteus muscle flap.

Eleven patients were included in the study (four women and seven men). The mean age was 23 ± 5.2, and the average body mass index was 28.59 (±6.7). The mean number of previous procedures was 2.25 (range, 2-3). Operative time was 158.7 ± 37 minutes. The average length of stay when both procedures were done in the same admission was 8 ± 6 days (range 3-21 days) and when procedures were done separately, the length of hospital stay after the wound closure using a partial gluteus muscle flap was 3 days, and the range for reliable follow-up was 1.6-7 years postoperatively. In our study cohort of 11 patients, the majority, specifically seven individuals, experienced uneventful healing. However, a subset of patients encountered complications. Three patients developed an infection recurrence: one was treated conservatively, and one required reoperation with resolution of symptoms, and one patient also experienced wound dehiscence, which was closed with a small procedure.

Partial gluteal muscle flap offers a promising approach for treating recalcitrant, difficult-to-treat pilonidal disease in young adults, enhancing wound healing and reducing the risk of recurrence.