Comparison Between Primary Closure and Open Technique for the Surgical Treatment of Pilonidal Sinus

Abstract

Objective: To compare the two different surgical techniques for the treatment of pilonidal sinusprimary closure and open technique in respect of hospital stay, duration of healing time and rate of
recurrence.
Material and Methods: This prospective randomized study was conducted in the Department of
Surgery, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore from January 2003 to December 2008. Atotal number
of 42 cases of chronic pilonidal sinus, all belonging to Pakistani nationality were identified and
divided in two groups randomly. Patients in Group A were treated by excision and primary midline
closure of the defect while in Group B the wounds were left open after excision to be healed by
granulation. Four patients were lost at follow up. The remaining 38 cases, 32 males and 6
females, were finally analyzed. Mean follow up period was 2.5 years .
Results: The mean hospital stay was 5.5 days in group A while 8.2 in group B (p=0.025). The
mean healing time was much shorter in group A than group B which is statistically significant
(p=0.001). Complications in both groups were comparable.
Conclusion: Excision with primary closure of the defect has less morbidity and is a cost effective
way of treating chronic pilonidal sinus