Consensus statement of the Italian society of colorectal surgery (SICCR): management and treatment of pilonidal disease

Minimum energy laser pilonidotomy (MELPi): a multicenter study of a novel method in pilonidal disease

Laser surgery, a minimally invasive procedure for the definitive approach to pilonidal disease (PD), has been frequently studied in recent years. This study aims to describe a new pilonidotomy method using minimal laser energy and evaluate its initial results. This is a retrospective multicenter study. We included 47 consecutive patients who underwent 50 "minimal energy pilonidotomies (MELPi)" between 2019 and 2023 in four centers in Brazil. Age, BMI, gender, smoking, diabetes, Guner classification, duration of illness, energy, hospitalization time, complications, recurrence, wound closure, pain, and return to activities were analyzed. The median age was 27; 61.7% were men, and 38.3% were women. The median BMI was 25.7. Smoking was evident in 14.9%, and diabetes in 2.1%. The average duration of the disease was 3 years. Most operations (36%) were performed on stage R disease. The median hospitalization time was 6 h, and the median healing time was 15 days. The average energy used in procedures was 433 J. The median postoperative pain was 2. Secretion occurred in 14% on the 60th day. Complications (cellulitis) occurred in 4% of cases. The median time to return to work was 7 days. The average following time was 12 months; recurrence occurred in 5 (10%)-in 3 patients, a second MELPi procedure was performed and was effective. MELPi shows promising initial results: low pain, low complication rates, and a fast activity return. It is a good option in recidivate cases and can be done more than once if necessary.

Midline and off-midline wound closure methods after surgical treatment for pilonidal sinus

BACKGROUND

Pilonidal sinus disease is a common and debilitating condition. Surgical treatment remains the mainstay for managing chronic disease, with options including midline and off-midline wound closure methods. However, the optimal approach remains uncertain. Recent developments in tension-free midline techniques require further exploration.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of midline and off-midline wound closure methods for pilonidal sinus, and to determine the optimal off-midline flap procedures.

SEARCH METHODS

In June 2022, we searched the Cochrane Wounds Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus EBSCO, and clinical trials registries. We also scanned the reference lists of included studies, as well as reviews, meta-analyses, and health technology reports. We applied no language, publication date, or study setting restrictions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included parallel RCTs involving participants undergoing midline closure without flap techniques and off-midline closure for pilonidal sinus treatment. We excluded quasi-experimental studies and studies that enroled participants presenting with an abscess.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We followed standard Cochrane methodology. The critical outcomes included wound healing (time to wound healing, proportion of wounds healed), recurrence rate, wound infection, wound dehiscence, time to return to work, and quality of life. We assessed biases in these outcomes utilising the Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool and appraised evidence certainty via the GRADE approach.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 33 studies with 3667 analysed participants. The median or average age of the participants across the included studies ranged from 21.0 to 34.2 years, with a predominant male representation. Geographically, the trials were primarily conducted in the Middle East. We identified nine intervention comparisons. In this abstract, we focus on and present the summarised findings for the three primary comparisons. Off-midline closure versus conventional midline closure Off-midline closure probably reduces the time to wound healing (mean difference (MD) -5.23 days, 95% confidence interval (CI) -7.55 to -2.92 days; 3 studies, 300 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). However, there may be little to no difference between the two methods in the proportion of wounds healed (100% versus 88.5%, risk ratio (RR) 1.13, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.39; 2 studies, 207 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Off-midline closure probably results in lower rates of recurrence (1.5% versus 6.8%, RR 0.22, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.45; 13 studies, 1492 participants; moderate-certainty evidence) and wound infection (3.8% versus 11.7%, RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.49; 13 studies, 1568 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), and may lower rates of wound dehiscence (3.9% versus 8.9%, RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.71; 11 studies, 1389 participants; low-certainty evidence). Furthermore, off-midline closure may result in a reduced time to return to work (MD -3.72 days, 95% CI -6.11 to -1.33 days; 6 studies, 820 participants; low-certainty evidence). There were no data available for quality of life. Off-midline closure versus tension-free midline closure Off-midline closure may reduce the time to wound healing (median 14 days in off-midline closure versus 51 days in tension-free midline closure; 1 study, 116 participants; low-certainty evidence) and increase wound healing rates at three months (94.7% versus 76.4%, RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.46; 1 study, 115 participants; low-certainty evidence), but may result in little to no difference in rates of recurrence (5.4% versus 7.8%, RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.61; 6 studies, 551 participants; very low-certainty evidence), wound infection (2.8% versus 6.4%, RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.16 to 1.17; 6 studies, 559 participants; very low-certainty evidence), and wound dehiscence (2.5% versus 3.0%, RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.17 to 3.84; 3 studies, 250 participants; very low-certainty evidence) compared to tension-free midline closure. Furthermore, off-midline closure may result in longer time to return to work compared to tension-free midline closure (MD 3.00 days, 95% CI 1.52 to 4.48 days; 1 study, 60 participants; low-certainty evidence). There were no data available for quality of life. Karydakis flap versus Limberg flap Karydakis flap probably results in little to no difference in time to wound healing compared to Limberg flap (MD 0.36 days, 95% CI -1.49 to 2.22; 6 studies, 526 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Compared to Limberg flap, Karydakis flap may result in little to no difference in the proportion of wounds healed (80.0% versus 66.7%, RR 1.20, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.86; 1 study, 30 participants; low-certainty evidence), recurrence rate (5.1% versus 4.5%, RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.61 to 2.14; 9 studies, 890 participants; low-certainty evidence), wound infection (7.9% versus 5.1%, RR 1.55, 95% CI 0.90 to 2.68; 8 studies, 869 participants; low-certainty evidence), wound dehiscence (7.4% versus 6.2%, RR 1.20, 95% CI 0.41 to 3.50; 7 studies, 776 participants; low-certainty evidence), and time to return to work (MD -0.23 days, 95% CI -5.53 to 5.08 days; 6 studies, 541 participants; low-certainty evidence). There were no data available for quality of life.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This Cochrane review examines the midline and off-midline wound closure options for pilonidal sinus, predominantly based on young adult studies. Off-midline flap procedures demonstrate there may be benefits over conventional midline closure for pilonidal sinus, with various off-midline flap techniques. When off-midline flap closures were compared to tension-free midline closure, low-certainty evidence indicated there may be improved wound healing and increased time to return to work for off-midline closure, whilst very low-certainty evidence indicated there may be no evidence of a difference in other outcomes. There may be no evidence of an advantage found amongst the off-midline techniques evaluated. The choice of either procedure is likely to be based on a clinician's preference, experience, patient characteristics, and the patients' preferences. To more accurately determine the benefits and potential harms of these closure techniques, further large-scale and meticulously-designed trials are essential. Specifically, there is a pressing need for more studies addressing the paediatric population, in addition to adult studies.

Platelet-rich plasma for pilonidal disease: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To examine the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for treatment of pilonidal disease (PD) and thus provide a reference for clinical application.

METHODS

A systematic review of PubMed and the Cochrane Library was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. We considered all studies that reported the use of PRP for treatment of PD. Extracted data included the first author's name, year of publication, study type, number of included patients, inclusion and exclusion criteria, interventions, anesthesia, application of PRP (source, preparation, dose, and operation), antibiotics, follow-up time, therapeutic outcomes, and adverse events.

RESULTS

In total, eight randomized controlled trials and one prospective cohort study involving 809 patients were included. PRP reduced pain, accelerated healing, and reduced adverse events. The application of combined minimally invasive surgery achieved better results. However, overfilling of the wound with PRP in minimally invasive surgeries was shown to potentially increase the risk of adverse events.

CONCLUSION

PRP can be used as an adjuvant treatment in PD surgery to improve the therapeutic effect and reduce adverse events. The optimal combination of PRP and various factors is an important direction of future research.INPLASY registration number: INPLASY2023100070.

An international survey exploring the management of pilonidal disease

AIM

Pilonidal disease (PD) is a common debilitating condition frequently seen in surgical practice. Several available treatments carry different benefit/risk balances. The aim of this study was to snapshot the current management of PD across European countries.

METHOD

Members affiliated to the European Society of Coloproctology were invited to join the survey. An invitation was extended to others via social media. The predictive power of respondents' and hospitals' demographics on the change of therapeutic approach was explored.

RESULTS

Respondents (n = 452) were mostly men (77%), aged 26-60 years, practising in both academic and public hospitals and with fair distribution between colorectal (51%) and general (48%) surgeons. A total of 331 (73%) respondents recommended surgery at first presentation of the disease. Up to 80% of them recommended antibiotic therapy and 95% did not use any classification of PD. A primary closure technique was the preferred procedure (29%), followed by open technique (22%), flap creation (7%), sinusectomy (7%) and marsupialization (7%). Approximately 27% of subjects would choose the same surgical technique even after a failure. Almost half (46%) perform surgery as office based. A conservative approach was negatively associated with acutely presenting PD (p < 0.001). Respondents who were not considering tailored surgery based on patient presentation tended to change their approach in the case of a failed procedure.

CONCLUSION

With the caveat of a heterogeneous number of respondents across countries, the results of our snapshot survey may inform the development of future guidelines.

Laser technology in proctological diseases: is it really the wave of the future?

Different types of lasers have been applied for various proctological conditions. We discuss about published articles regarding the application of lasers, with concern about evidence-based use of these techniques and technologies. We performed a literature search about laser treatments for proctological conditions. 55 studies were included for the final revision. Meta-analysis of data was not performed because of heterogeneity of study designs and outcome measures. A scoping review was performed. Laser treatments for hemorrhoids require a shorter operative time and show less postoperative pain and bleeding compared to conventional hemorrhoidectomy, but are more expensive. Studies are heterogeneous in design, endpoints, postoperative assessment, length of follow-up and outcome measures. Only 3 RCTs are available and only three studies evaluate long-term outcomes. FiLaC (fistula laser closure) was initially described in 2011 for the treatment of anal fistula. In the published studies the reported healing rates vary between 20 and 82%, and the ideal indication is yet to be defined. Studies with long-term follow-up are lacking. SiLaT (sinus laser treatment) applied the technology used for FiLaC to the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease. This technique had less perioperative pain and shorter hospital stay, but a lower primary healing rate when compared to traditional techniques. Available data is very limited, and no randomized trials are published to date. Laser assisted techniques are a viable, minimally invasive, but expensive option for the treatment of several proctological conditions. Further researches are needed to assess if patients could benefit of their use, and for what indication.

Five-year recurrence after endoscopic approach to pilonidal sinus disease: A multicentre experience

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the 5-year recurrence rate of pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) after endoscopic sinusectomy and identify risk factors for recurrence.

METHODS

All consecutive patients from September 2011 through December 2017 who underwent endoscopic sinusectomy at seven referral centres for pilonidal sinus treatment were retrospectively analysed from a prospectively maintained database.

RESULTS

Out of 290 patients (185 males versus 105 female, with a mean age of 25.5±6.9), 73 presented recurrence at 5-year follow-up with a recurrence rate of 25.2%. The number of pilonidal sinus with pits off the midline (p = 0.001) and the mean (SD) distance from the most lateral orifice to the midline (p = 0.001) were higher in the group of patients with recurrence at 5-year follow-up. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the position of the pits off the midline (p = 0.001) and the distance of the most lateral orifice from the midline (p = 0.001) were independent risk factors for recurrence at 5-year follow-up. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the distance of lateral orifice from midline predicted an 82.2% possibility of recurrence at 5-year follow-up and Youden's test identified the best cut-off as 2 cm for this variable. Out of 195 cases with the most lateral orifice less than 2 cm from the midline, 13 presented recurrence at 5-year follow-up with a recurrence rate of 6.7%. Out of 95 cases with the most lateral orifice more than 2 cm from midline, 60 showed recurrence at 5-year follow-up with a recurrence rate of 63.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

This data may help guide which disease characteristics predict the optimal use of an endoscopic pilonidal sinus technique.

Pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (PEPSiT): report of a multicentric national study on 294 patients

This study aimed to report a multicentric national experience about the outcomes of pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (PEPSiT). The medical records of all pediatric patients, aged up to 18 years, who underwent PEPSiT in the period 2019-2021, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' demographics, operative details, and post-operative outcomes were assessed. A total of 294 patients (182 boys), with median age of 14 years (range 10-18), receiving PEPSiT in the study period, were enrolled. Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) was primary in 258 (87.8%) and recurrent in 36 (12.2%). The median operative time was 36 min (range 11-120). The median VAS pain score was 0.86 (range 0-3) and the median duration of analgesic use was 27 h (range 12-60). The overall success rate was 95.2% (280/294) and the median time to full healing was 23.4 days (range 19-50). Six/294 (2.0%) patients developed Clavien 2 post-operative complications. The recurrence rate was 4.8% (14/294) and all recurrences were re-operated using PEPSiT. Redo-surgery for wound debridement was performed in one (0.3%) patient with late healing. On multivariate analysis, hirsutism and typology of sinus (pits ≥ 2, paramedian and more proximal to the anus) were predictors of PSD recurrence (p = 0.001). To date, this is the largest series of PEPSiT published in the pediatric population. The outcomes reported after a 3 years experience confirm that PEPSiT is a safe, effective, and real minimally invasive procedure to treat adolescents with PSD. It provides patients quick and painless recovery, satisfactory success, and high quality of life.

Minimally invasive surgery for pilonidal disease: Outcomes of the Gips technique-A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Pilonidal disease is a common inflammatory condition that significantly impacts quality of life. Currently, there is a tendency to favor minimally invasive procedures. The present review aims to summarize the evidence and assess the outcomes of the Gips procedure.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted on MEDLINE/Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases until December 2022. Eligible studies included patients with pilonidal disease submitted to the Gips procedure, reporting at least 1 of the following outcomes: wound complications, wound healing time, time to resume daily activities, and recurrence (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews protocol: CRD42023389269). The National Institutes of Health assessment tool was used for risk of bias evaluation. Meta-analysis was performed using OpenMeta[Analyst] and R software, and a subgroup analysis was performed when applicable.

RESULTS

Thirteen observational studies with a total of 4,286 patients submitted to Gips were included. The pooled wound complications rate was 7.8% (95% confidence interval: 5.1-10.6), the median time to resume daily activities was 1 day (95% confidence interval: 1-2), and the mean wound healing time was 4.7 weeks (95% confidence interval: 3.0-6.4). Subgroup analysis showed that pooled recurrence rate was 6.5% (95% confidence interval: 5.2-7.8) up to 2 years and 38.9% (95% confidence interval: 27.1-50.7) after more than 2 years of surgery. Most results showed substantial heterogeneity across studies.

CONCLUSION

Despite apparent favorable outcomes of the Gips procedure, there is a high recurrence rate over time. Because included studies had an observational nature and unstandardized methodologies, comparative randomized controlled trials with longer follow-ups are needed for high-level evidence regarding these outcomes.

Paediatric Pilonidal Sinus Disease: Early Recurrences Irrespective of the Treatment Approaches in a Retrospective Multi-centric Analysis

BACKGROUND

Incidences of pilonidal sinus disease are rising. Guidelines rarely consider children and adolescents and evidence for their treatment is rare. The literature is divided on the choice of the preferable surgical procedure. Therefore, we aimed to assess recurrences and complications following different treatment approaches in our multi-centric cohort.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed all patients treated for pilonidal sinus disease in the paediatric surgical departments of Bonn and Mainz between 01/01/2009 and 31/12/2020. Recurrences were defined according to the German national guidelines. The pre-specified analysis via logistic regression included the operative approach, age, sex, use of methylene blue, and obesity as independent predictors.

RESULTS

We included 213 patients, of which 13.6% experienced complications and 16% a recurrence. Median time to recurrence was 5.8 months (95% confidence interval: 4.2-10.3), which was slightly higher in children than adolescents (10.3 months, 95% confidence interval: 5.3-16.2 vs. 5.5 months, 95% confidence interval: 3.7-9.7). None of the investigated procedures, excision and primary closure, excision and open wound treatment, pit picking, and flap procedures had a decisive advantage in terms of complications or recurrence. Of the independent predictors, only obesity was associated to complications (adjusted odds ratio: 2.86, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-7.79, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

We did not find a difference between the investigated procedures, but our analysis is limited by the small sample size in some subgroups. Our data corroborates that recurrences in paediatric pilonidal sinus disease occur early. Factors linked to these differences remain unknown.

Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment: Preliminary Results, Learning Curve and Comparison with Standard Open Approach

Background: Pilonidal sinus (PNS) is a common disease which can lead to complications including infection and abscess formation. Different surgical approaches have been suggested, based on primary or secondary wound closure intention healing or endoscopic treatment (EPSiT). The aim of this study is to verify the superior outcomes of EPSiT, especially in comparison with the traditional open approach, and discuss the operators' learning curve. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted identifying all the patients who underwent surgical treatment for PNS with EPSiT technique between 2019 and 2022 and with open technique between 2002 and 2022. We divided patients in two groups: open procedure (group 1) and EPSiT (group 2). We considered a p value < 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: The mean operative time was 58.6 ± 23.7 min for group 1 and 42.8 ± 17.4 min for group 2 (p < 0.01). The mean hospital stay was 2.6 ± 1.7 days for group 1 patients and of 0.8 ± 0.4 days for group 2 (p < 0.01). Complete healing was obtained in 18.7 ± 5.6 days for group 1 and 38.3 ± 23.5 days for group 2 (p < 0.01). Recurrences were of 23.4% for group 1 and 5.4% for group 2 (p = 0.03). Conclusions: EPSiT is a minimally invasive and effective approach for the treatment of pilonidal cyst that can be safely performed in pediatric patients with promising results concerning aesthetic outcome and pain control, and with a rapid and less complicated recovery compared to traditional open procedures.

[Is Pit Picking Surgery the Standard of Treatment for Uncomplicated Pilonidal Disease?]

Minimally invasive surgery for pilonidal disease was first described in 1965, but it has only become widespread in the last two decades. The present manuscript discusses the technique of pit picking surgery, its variations, indications, alternatives and the results.

Photo-crosslinking hydrogel for wound healing in a pilonidal sinus patient after open surgery

Pilonidal sinus is a chronic infectious disease with large incision and high risk of relapse after surgical management. Therefore, effective intervention strategies are urgently needed to reduce the relapse and shorten the wound healing time. Hydrogels have been widely used in regenerative medicine for its great biocompatibility, however, it remains challenging to integrate the material with wound tissues. Here, we reported a case of pilonidal sinus patient using a novel tissue integration material, Photo-crosslinking hydrogel after open surgery. A 38-year-old man with a pilonidal sinus for ˃5 years underwent open surgery. When the surgery was finished, the wound was injected with hydrogel that was irradiated with a ultraviolet light source until covered and solidified completely. Hydrogel needed to be changed 1-2 times per week. We evaluated the healing time as primary outcome and then followed up for ˃1 year to observe the relapse. The wound healed completely in 46 days after open surgery, which was shorter than that reported in other studies. Meanwhile, no recurrence was detected during follow-up. Photo-crosslinking hydrogel effectively promoted wound healing and has the potential to be easily applied in Pilonidal sinus patients after open surgery.

Endoscopic approach to complex or recurrent pilonidal sinus: A retrospective analysis

Pilonidal Sinus is a benign, chronic disease that affects the hair follicles of the natal cleft of the sacrococcygeal area. Its ideal treatment is controversial, especially in complex or recurrent cases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of minimally invasive endoscopic approach in this setting. We enrolled patients affected by complex or recurrent sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus from January 2015 through December 2020 who underwent Video-Assisted Ablation of Pilonidal Sinus. All patients enrolled were re-evaluated once a year with a standard physical examination. The patients included were 38. Recurrence rate at 1-, 3- and 5-years follow-ups were 28.9%, 22.2% and 38.1% respectively. Of interest, the mean (SD) distance from the most lateral orifice to the midline was higher in group of patients with recurrence and the multivariate analysis demonstrated that it was the limiting factor, which influences the recurrence rate. In complex or recurrent pilonidal sinus disease with pits off the midline the endoscopic approach should not be the first choice. This makes us think that these cases should have their own classification to be identified and guide surgeons in choosing the appropriate approach.

An effective and considerable treatment of pilonidal sinus disease by laser ablation

The treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease (SPD) is still challenging. Although many non-surgical and surgical methods exist, no consensus has been reached on the best treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of laser ablation using 1470-nm radial diode laser fiber in treating SPD. We retrospectively studied the data of our 48 patients who operated on this technique between March 2019 and July 2022. All patients were treated with laser ablation using 1470-nm radial diode laser fiber. The healing rate and recurrence rate, demographic and surgical data, postoperative pain, complications (wound infection, wound bleeding), the time of returning to regular work and life, and the time of wound healing were recorded. Postoperative pain was measured based on the visual analog scale (VAS) score. Postoperative follow-up was performed in the outpatient clinic every 1 week for 1 month. Among the 48 patients, 41 males and 7 females, with a mean age of 27.7 years (range 14-42), the healing rate was 100%, and the average healing time was 28.3 ± 5.5 days. Mean operative time was 15.5 ± 3.3 min. The recurrence rate was 2.1%. One patient relapsed 3 months after the operation. The patient underwent laser ablation again, and the sinus tract was closed. The median visual analog scale (VAS) score on the day of operation was 0(0,2). The median VAS score on the first, third, seventh, and fourteenth day after operation was 0(0,2), 0(0,1), 0(0,1), and 0(0,0), respectively. There was no wound infection or bleeding after the operation. The mean time to normal work/life was 7.1 ± 3.2 days. Almost all the patients felt very satisfied with the operation. Laser ablation using 1470-nm radial diode laser fiber is effective in SPD treatment. It is associated with minor wounds and mild postoperative pain. It is a simple, safe, and minimally invasive technique and its clinical application for acute and chronic SPD in the absence of abscess is promising.

Endoscopic sinusectomy: 'a rose by any other name'. A systematic review of different endoscopic procedures to treat pilonidal disease

AIM

Pilonidal sinus or Pilonidal Disease (PD) is a relatively common, benign but challenging condition. Although commonly encountered in practice, its ideal treatment is controversial. One of the most validated treatments is video-assisted surgery. In this context, very similar endoscopic techniques have been published under different names. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the differences among these proposed techniques and their outcomes.

METHODS

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed during all stages of this systematic review. A systematic search of the English literature was performed on multiple databases from 1 January 2014 to 3 April 2022. The primary outcome measure was the IDEAL framework stage of innovation. The key secondary outcome measures were the adherence to the IDEAL reporting guidelines, the Blencowe framework and the core outcome set (COS) for studies evaluating the introduction and evaluation of novel surgical techniques, the qualitative assessment using appropriate tools, the procedural variations and outcomes of each technique.

RESULTS

A total of 38 articles were included reporting a very similar technique under eight different acronyms. The number of patients varied from 9 to 250. Mean follow-up ranged from 1 to 60 months. There was only one published study of IDEAL 3. The majority (58%) were IDEAL 2a studies. Reporting of domains in the IDEAL reporting guidelines and Blencowe framework was poor, with most studies not reporting the component steps of procedures or efforts to standardize them. Half of COS domains were markedly underreported. The quality of the evidence was categorized as having a risk of bias from moderate to critical level in all nine comparative non-randomized series. Postoperative complications occurred in 0%-6% of cases, including surgical site infection, poor or failed wound healing bleeding, granuloma, haematoma, and pain requiring intervention. The recurrence rate varied from 0% to 22%.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrates that reporting on technical aspects of interventions for PD is poor, thus warranting a better-quality control of surgical techniques. It is advisable to group all endoscopic procedures under the umbrella term of 'endoscopic sinusectomy', thus embracing the two main principles of this technique, that is, video assistance and PD ablation.

Surgery for pilonidal sinus disease in Norway: training, attitudes and preferences-a survey among Norwegian surgeons

BACKGROUND

Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is frequently observed in young adults. There is no wide consensus on optimal treatment in the literature, and various procedures are used in clinical practice. The objective of this study was to assess current practice, experience, training, and attitudes towards PSD surgery among Norwegian surgeons.

METHODS

An online survey on PSD surgery was created and sent to all members of the Norwegian Surgical Association. Categorical data were reported as frequencies and percentages.

RESULTS

Most currently practicing Norwegian surgeons used the Bascom's cleft lift (93.2%) or minimally invasive procedures (55.4%). Midline excisions with primary closure (19.7%) or secondary healing (22.4%) were still used by some surgeons, though. Most surgeons had received training in PSD surgery supervised by a specialist, but only about half of them felt sufficiently trained. The surgeons generally performed few PSD operations per year. Many considered PSD as a condition of low surgical status and this patient group as underprioritized.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that PSD surgery in Norway has been moving away from midline excisions and towards off-midline flap procedures and minimally invasive techniques. PSD and its treatment have a low status among many Norwegian surgeons. This study calls for attention to this underprioritized group of patients and shows the need for consensus in PSD treatment such as development of national guidelines in Norway. Further investigation on training in PSD and the role of supervision is needed.

Long-term outcome after Bascom's cleft-lift procedure under tumescent local analgesia for pilonidal sinus disease: a cohort study

AIM

Bascom's cleft-lift procedure for pilonidal sinus disease under tumescent local analgesia is feasible and well tolerated with favourable short-term outcomes. We aimed to assess the 10-year treatment success rate after cleft-lift under tumescent local analgesia.

METHOD

This was a single-centre cohort study based on prospectively registered perioperative data and survey data with additional data from electronic medical records. The cleft-lift procedure was performed under tumescent local analgesia in a day-surgical setting at a tertiary referral hospital between 1 July 2008 and 31 March 2014. The primary outcome was the 10-year risk treatment success defined as complete wound healing within 180 days of surgery or no recurrence assessed with competing risk analyses. Secondary outcomes were time to complete wound healing, persistent pain and cosmetic satisfaction.

RESULTS

Two hundred patients with complex pilonidal sinus disease were included. Indication was incomplete wound healing after pilonidal sinus surgery in 43 (21.5%) patients, recurrence after previous intervention in 78 (39.0%) or moderate to complex sinuses assessed by a consultant surgeon in 79 (39.5%). One hundred and ninety-five patients had complete wound healing within 180 days with a median time of 29 days (interquartile range 16-47). The cumulative risk of 10-year recurrence was 11.3% (95% CI 6.2%-16.4%) with a median follow-up time of 8.5 (1.0-10.7) years. Treatment success was 86.1% (95% CI 80.6%-91.5%). No significant predictors were associated with recurrence, and 90% of patients experienced no persistent pain.

CONCLUSION

Cleft-lift performed under tumescent local analgesia has an acceptable 10-year treatment failure rate, making the method feasible in a day-surgery setting.

Assessment of Surgical Strategies for Pilonidal Sinus Disease in the Netherlands

Purpose

Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is a subcutaneous infection of the sacrococcygeal region due to entrapment of hair and/or debris. International guidelines recommend minimally invasive techniques and flap techniques. A Dutch guideline for the treatment of PSD is not available and this may lead to practice variation. The aim of this study was to perform a national survey on the surgical treatment of PSD in the Netherlands.

Method

An online survey was sent by e-mail to all surgeons and surgical residents of the Dutch Association for Surgeons. Respondents were asked to reflect on their preferences in the treatment of PSD, their perceived satisfaction with this treatment, and the need for national guidelines.

Results

A total of 819 (48.6%) of 1684 invitees responded to the survey, of whom 615 (37%) met the inclusion criteria. Traditional excision techniques were most frequently performed for all types of PSD (50.7%) followed by flap techniques (22.6%) and minimally invasive techniques (22%). Only 22.6% of the participants were satisfied with the current treatment and 82% supported the development of a national guideline.

Conclusion

Traditional excision techniques are most frequently performed for PSD in the Netherlands but the majority of surgeons and surgical residents are not satisfied with the current treatment. There is a demand for a national guideline.

Histopathological Examination and Endoscopic Sinusectomy: Is It Possible?

Introduction

Although carcinomatous degeneration is a rare occurrence, some authors support the need for a histopathological examination after pilonidal cyst excision. Today, minimally invasive techniques are widely spread for the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease but opposed to standard procedures, these techniques could not allow to perform a histopathological examination because of the absence of a specimen. The aim of this two-institutions study is to evaluate whether histopathological examination of the pilonidal sinus excision material can be successfully performed after an endoscopic ablation of the cyst.

Materials and Methods

We identified all consecutive patients from January 2021 to September 2021 with diagnosis of pilonidal sinus disease who underwent Video Assisted Ablation of Pilonidal Sinus (VAAPS) followed by histopathological examination.

Results

A total of 45 patients were included in the study. All patients were Caucasians and aged below 50 years. Nine of them underwent surgery due to recurrence of PSD. No evidence of malignancy was detected in the histopathological examination of the pilonidal sinus sampling material.

Discussion

We were able to send pilonidal sinus sampling material for a histopathological examination in all patients who underwent minimally invasive technique for the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease. No evidence of malignancy was found in any of the 45 samples. Our findings prove that minimally invasive ablation of pilonidal sinus does not preclude histopathological examination of the cysts.

Endoscopic Treatment of Pilonidal Sinus Disease: State of Art and Review of the Literature

Background: Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is a chronic troublesome pathology of the natal cleft of the sacrococcygeal region, with an estimated incidence of 26 cases in every 100,000 inhabitants. The aim of this review is to give a snapshot of the current literature on the endoscopic approach to PSD.

Methods: A search on endoscopic treatment of pilonidal disease was performed according to PRISMA guidelines, adopting the following search terms: (pilonidal OR sacrococcygeal) and (endoscopic OR VAAPS OR EPSiT OR minimally invasive OR video-assisted OR video assisted).

Results: Thirty-four articles were included in the final analysis, among which 23 were on adults and 11 were on pediatric population. The endoscopic approach is associated with painless postoperative pain, good aesthetic results, short time off work, and high patient satisfaction.

Despite these advantages in short-term outcomes, results on recurrence rate in a long-term follow up are needed to definitively confirm the importance of this technique.

Conclusions: The endoscopic approach is associated with significant postoperative advantages over other standard surgical approaches, and it should be included in the surgical portfolio for the treatment of PSD. According to the Italian guidelines, this technique could be considered as the gold standard for limited PSD. However, the favorable short-term-outcomes and lack of reliable data on long-term follow-up must be a stimulus to perform further high-quality studies to give definitive conclusions on this technique.

Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment: A Tertiary Care Academic Center Experience

Background: Pilonidal disease (PD) represents one of the most common proctological diseases in young adults. Although several approaches to treating PD have been described, there is still a lack of agreement on which is the best. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSiT) at a tertiary care academic center. Methods: Between June 2017 and January 2021, a total of 32 patients [12 women (37.5%) and 20 men (62.5%)] with a mean age of 29.22 ± 12.98 years were treated with EPSiT. Pre- and post-operative symptoms were assessed with a score of 0-5. Success was defined as the absence of any subjective symptoms, as well as by complete post-operative wound healing. Results: Most of the patients had a midline external opening (17/32; 53.1%), with a mean number of external openings of 2.41 (1-4) ± 1.04. The median post-operative pain score was 0, and the mean follow-up period was 22 (4-42) ± 11.49 months. The time to wound healing was reduced in patients with one opening (28.14 ± 4.06 days) compared to patients with two or more openings (33.64 ± 7.3 days) (p = 0.067). The mean operative time was longer in patients who subsequently had a recurrence (41.75 ± 6.24 vs. 34.18 ± 6.24 min; p = 0.031). The overall success rate was 87.5% (28/32), and the mean time to recurrence was 3.25 (2-5) ± 1.26 months. Conclusions: EPSiT represents a viable option for the treatment of PD. More evidence and a longer follow-up period are needed to validate the results.