Treatment of pilonidal disease by combination of pit excision and phenol application

Aim To examine the results of our minimal invasive treatment for pilonidal disease. Methods Total 83 patients treated by pit excision and consecutive phenol applications on an outpatient setting. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia, without any preoperative testing, colon cleansing, prophylactic antibiotics or sedation. A pit excision (mean length 1.3 ± 0.5 cm) including several close midline orifices was done. Separated pit excisions were done to the remaining midline and lateral orifices. Sinus cavity was cleared of hair and debris, and the walls of the cavity were sclerosed using a cotton bud dipped in 80 % liquid phenol. Phenolization was repeated twice on day one and seven. Results Mean procedure time was 22.2 ± 7.4 min. Rates of patients who did not required analgesics at first, second, third and fourth days after surgery were 58, 85, 91 and 100 %, respectively. All the patients returned to work/school after 3 days. Mean wound closure time was 28.5 ± 14.9 days. Total 86.7 % of the patients were asymptomatic after a mean 25.7 ± 8.5 months follow-up. Conclusion Simple pit excision and sclerosing the pilonidal sinus cavity consecutively was an effective and minimal invasive method for relief of pilonidal symptoms.