Effect of hydrocolloid dressings on healing by second intention after excision of pilonidal sinus.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of hydrocolloid dressings in wound management after excision of pilonidal sinus.


METHODS
Prospective randomised trial.


METHODS
District hospital, Spain.


METHODS
38 patients with chronic pilonidal sinus.


METHODS
Open excision with healing by second intention. Divided into three groups: conventional gauze dressing (control, n = 15), Comfeel (n = 12) and Varihesive (n = 11).


METHODS
Median healing time, infection rate, intolerance, pain, comfort, ease of management, leakage, and recurrence.


RESULTS
Median healing time was 68 days (range 33-168) in the control group, compared with 65 days (range 40-137) in the two hydrocolloid groups combined. There were no differences between the hydrocolloid groups. There were no recurrences during the 74 months of follow-up. A third of the postoperative cultures in the control group grew pathogens compared with 1/23 of the patients treated with hydrocolloid dressings (p = 0.03). This was of no clinical relevance. 14/23 in the hydrocolloid group developed leaks. Pain was significantly less in the first four postoperative weeks among the patients in the hydrocolloid group than in the control group (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Hydrocolloid dressings lessen pain and increase comfort for patients after excision of pilonidal sinus, though time to healing is no shorten than when a conventional gauze dressing is used.
Viciano
V
V
Department of Surgery, Hospital Lluís Alcanyís, Xàtiva (Valencia), Spain.
Castera
J E
JE
Medrano
J
J
Aguiló
J
J
Torro
J
J
Botella
M G
MG
Toldrá
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003102:Colloids; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008298:Maleates; D008875:Middle Aged; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D011145:Polyvinyls; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
D003102:Colloids; D008298:Maleates; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011145:Polyvinyls; C093472:comfeel; C058026:polyvinylmethoxyethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer