Open Pilonidal Excision as a Translational Human Model for Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration Research

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Translational Research
• Wound Healing Biology

Background:

• Wound healing research faces limitations due to the lack of reproducible human models.
• Pilonidal disease surgery creates an accessible open wound, ideal for studying natural tissue repair.
• Understanding human wound healing is crucial for clinical translation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate open pilonidal excision wounds as a standardized human model for wound healing research.
• To explore the potential of this model for biomarker discovery and therapeutic development.
• To bridge the gap between experimental findings and clinical applications in wound care.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of wound healing physiology, experimental models, and pilonidal disease literature.
• Evaluation of evidence from experimental, translational, and clinical studies.
• Assessment of the feasibility and reproducibility of using pilonidal wounds for research.

Main Results:

• Open pilonidal wounds heal in 4-10 weeks through standard phases: inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling.
• External accessibility allows for repeated clinical observation and serial sample collection (tissue, fluid, exudate).
• This model facilitates investigation of angiogenesis, cell proliferation, cytokine signaling, and matrix remodeling in vivo.

Conclusions:

• Open pilonidal excision wounds represent a viable in vivo human model for translational wound healing research.
• The model's accessibility and reproducibility support biomarker discovery and the development of novel therapies.
• This approach offers direct insights into human wound biology under clinical conditions.