Reoperative surgery for pilonidal disease

Pilonidal disease is a condition of chronic inflammation and foreign body reaction of loose and abundant hair in the gluteal cleft leading to pits, sinuses, and recurrent bouts of infection. Several management strategies have been used since initial description of the disease in 1833; however, all of them have been complicated by the potential of recurrence. Episodes of recurrence have been attributed to incomplete management of diseased tissue, either by unfinished excision or by disruption of sinuses, as well as a persistence of a deep gluteal cleft after excision with or without primary closure.

Source: Seminars in Colon and Rectal Surgery - September 21, 2015 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Greta V. Bernier, Eric K. Johnson, Justin A. Maykel, Scott R. Steele Source Type: research