Laser Treatment of Pilonidal Disease — Immediate and Mid-term Results

Abstract

Different forms of treatment of pilonidal disease include traditional open surgery with or without flap reconstruction, phenolization, and laser treatment. However, no significantly large series have been published about the laser method. This case series analysis consisted of 69 consecutive pilonidal disease patients, who were operated upon with a Fistula-tract laser Closure in the plastic surgery department of a single academic teaching hospital between August 2019 and December 2021. The follow-up was done by phone at 2 weeks and 4 weeks. The outpatient clinic follow-ups were at 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. The mean number of sick leave days was 6.2 ± 8.9 days. The mean number of outpatient clinic visits (including phone calls) was 3.4 ± 3.9. The mean secretion time was 22.1 ± 20.3 days. During the follow-up, 54 (81.8%) patients wounds healed. Eight (12.1%) patients had postoperative wound infection. There were no other complications. The mean follow-up time was 15.3 ± 7.7 months. Laser treatment for sinus pilonidal is promising and minimally invasive procedure. The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia. A re-operation comes into question if the operation area does not heal in the primary operation.