RADICAL VERSUS CONSERVATIVE METHODS IN ONE-STAGE PILONIDAL ABSCESS SURGERY: THE EXPERIENCE OF A TUNISIAN CENTER

• Published in: Arquivos brasileiros de cirurgia digestiva : ABCD 2022-01, Vol.35
• Main Authors: Mahjoubi, Mohamed Fares, Ben-Latifa, Mehdi, Karoui, Yasser, Rezgui, Bochra, Ben-Belaid, Amel, Essid, Nada, Ben-Ali, Ali, Ben-Moussa, Mounir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abscess; Original; Pilonidal Sinus; Recurrence; Wound Healing
• ISSN: 0102-6720; 2317-6326
• DOI: 10.1590/0102-672020220002e1713

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment for pilonidal abscess is the gold standard, but not yet well codified. Different techniques proposed can be conservative or radical. AIMS: The aim of our study was to compare postoperative outcomes of both methods in one-stage treatment strategy. METHODS: This is a comparative study including patients operated on for pilonidal abscess, with a satisfactory postoperative follow-up, over a period of 4 years. We looked for the occurrence of postoperative recurrence in the medical records or by interviewing reachable patients. RESULTS: We analyzed 57 patients: 33 males and 24 females. The mean age was 26.9±10 years. The type of operation was excision in 46 (81%) cases and incision in 11 (19%) cases associated with curettage in three cases and drainage in 1 case. There was no statistically significant relationship between the type of surgery and the occurrence of postoperative surgical complications (p=1) and hospital stay (p=0.4). Excision of pilonidal abscess was significantly associated with a longer time to return to activity (p=0.04). Conservative surgery was significantly associated with faster healing of the surgical wound (p