Crystallized phenol application and modified Limberg flap procedure in treatment of pilonidal sinus disease: A comparative retrospective study

Abstract

Background/Objective: Pilonidal sinus treatment includes various surgical and minimally invasive procedures, but there is still no standard treatment. Flap reconstructions and minimally invasive treatment options such as crystallized phenol application have recently been in the center of interest. The aim of this study is to compare crystallized phenol application as a minimally invasive treatment with modified Limberg flap reconstruction from many aspects. Methods: Thirty-seven patients diagnosed with pilonidal sinus and treated with modified Limberg flap reconstruction, and 44 patients treated with crystallized phenol application were evaluated retrospectively in terms of age, sex, length of stay in hospital postoperatively, wound complications, and the cause and rate of recurrence. Results: Length of hospital stay was decreased and no postoperative incision problems were found in the group treated with crystallized phenol application (p 24.9 kg/m2) and surgical site infection were strongly correlated with recurrence rate (p < 0.001). Discussion: Crystallized phenol application is a good alternative to the modified Limberg flap procedure and other surgical procedures, because it has several advantages such as being a minimally invasive procedure performed under local anesthesia with higher success rate after multiple applications, decreased length of stay in hospital, and minimal scar tissue formation.

Keywords

• Crystallized phenol
• treatment
• pilonidal disease
• flap surgery