title: Vacuum-assisted closure of a complex pilonidal sinus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The annual incidence of pilonidal sinus is approximately 26 per 100,000, of which complex pilonidal sinuses are the minority. Many different approaches have been described for managing simple cases. Treatment options for complex pilonidal sinus include excision with healing by secondary intention or plastic surgical procedures to obliterate the defect. Recently, vacuum-assisted closure has been used by plastic surgeons to facilitate healing of chronic or complicated wounds with particular success in treating pressure wounds overlying the sacrum.
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient with a complex pilonidal sinus was managed with excision and vacuum-assisted closure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A large tissue defect after radical excision healed relatively quickly when the subatmospheric pressure dressing was applied. The patient was discharged with the vacuum pump and change of dressings for alternate days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vacuum-assisted closure of a complex pilonidal sinus shortened the length of hospital stay and the need for further surgery and provided a cosmetically acceptable result.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University College Dublin, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jonathan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: McGuinness
authors.forename: Desmond C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: P Ronan
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: O'Connell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014618:Vacuum; D014945:Wound Healing