[Is preventive epilation following sacral dermoid operation useful or ineffective?]

Area of Science:

• Surgical outcomes and patient management in proctology.
• Clinical research on chronic wound healing and recurrence prevention.

Context:

• Pilonidal sinus disease often requires surgical intervention.
• Post-operative management strategies aim to minimize infection and recurrence.
• Patient adherence to post-operative recommendations can vary significantly.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of regular epilation as a post-operative measure to prevent pilonidal sinus recurrence.
• To analyze the impact of patient compliance with epilation recommendations on surgical outcomes.

Summary:

• A 1-10 year follow-up of 79 patients post-pilonidal sinus surgery revealed a 19% recurrence rate.
• Primary wound closure resulted in infection in 38% of cases.
• Consequent regular epilation was advised, but adherence was low; surprisingly, more recurrences occurred in patients who practiced epilation.

Impact:

• The findings suggest that regular epilation is not a successful strategy for preventing pilonidal sinus recurrence.
• Highlights the importance of evaluating post-operative interventions based on clinical evidence rather than assumptions.
• Informs future clinical practice regarding pilonidal sinus management and patient counseling.