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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Endoscopic Cholesteatoma Surgery
Published on: January 19, 2022
Laser-assisted endoscopic treatment of pilonidal sinus disease in children: a first pediatric series
Selcan Türker Çolak1, Burak Bal2, Kamuran Tutuş2
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. selcanturker@gmail.com.
Insights
Laser-assisted endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (LEPSIT) offers a minimally invasive solution for pediatric pilonidal sinus disease (PSD). This novel approach demonstrates high success rates and rapid recovery, making it a promising treatment option for young patients.
Area of Science:
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Pediatric Colorectal Surgery
- Laser Technology in Medicine
Background:
- Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) affects pediatric patients, often requiring surgical intervention.
- Laser-assisted endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (LEPSIT) is a novel technique for managing pediatric PSD.
- This study introduces LEPSIT and evaluates its initial clinical outcomes in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the technical aspects of LEPSIT in pediatric PSD.
- To report early clinical outcomes of LEPSIT in a cohort of pediatric patients.
- To assess the safety and efficacy of LEPSIT for pediatric pilonidal sinus disease.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of clinical data from pediatric patients (<18 years) undergoing LEPSIT for PSD.
- Data collected between November 2021 and July 2023.
- Inclusion criteria: patients with PSD treated with LEPSIT.
Main Results:
- 45 pediatric patients (42.2% female, 57.8% male) with a mean age of 15.2 years were included.
- Mean procedure duration was 30 minutes, with low pain scores (VAS 1.1 at 24h) and minimal analgesic use.
- Successful treatment achieved in 91.1% after one procedure, with all patients achieving cure after a second LEPSIT for recurrence.
Conclusions:
- LEPSIT is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective treatment for pediatric PSD, including recurrent cases.
- The procedure is minimally invasive, with low pain and rapid return to daily activities.
- LEPSIT offers a valuable alternative for managing pilonidal sinus disease in children.
Background:
This study aims to describe the technical details of laser-assisted endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (LEPSIT), a method used for the first time in pediatric pilonidal sinus disease (PSD), and to report early-stage clinical outcomes in a pediatric cohort.
Methods:
Clinical data of children under 18 years of age who underwent LEPSIT for PSD between November 2021 and July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.
Results:
Of the 45 patients included, 19 (42.2%) were female, and 26 (57.8%) were male; the mean age at surgery was 15.2 ± 3.1 years, and the mean body mass index was 25.1 ± 3.2. Of the 45 patients, 35 presented with an acute pilonidal abscess at initial evaluation and had undergone abscess drainage prior to LEPSIT. Six patients had been previously operated on for pilonidal sinus disease at an external center prior to LEPSIT. Mean procedure duration was 30 ± 7.2 min. The mean visual analog scale (VAS) score at 6 h was 1.8, 24 h was 1,1 and the mean analgesic use was 1 ± 0.3 days. Successful treatment was achieved in 41 patients (91.1%) after a single procedure; 4 patients (8.9%) had recurrence, all of whom achieved cure after a second LEPSIT. Improvement was ultimately achieved in all 45 patients. Mean follow-up was 32.4 ± 11.3 months.
Conclusion:
LEPSIT is an easy-to-administer, minimally painful (mean VAS score: 1.1), and minimally invasive treatment that shortens hospital stay and enables rapid return to daily activities. It is also a safe and well-tolerated option for recurrent PSD.
