title: Management of pilonidal sinus disease with oblique excision and primary closure: results of 493 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pilonidal sinus disease is a common and well-known entity. Many surgical methods have been described for the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease. The aim of this study was to determine the advantages and long-term results of oblique excision and primary closure techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 1999 and December 2001, 493 patients (490 male, 3 female; average age = 23.48 +/- 3.90 (range, 15-51) years) were operated on for primary or recurrent pilonidal sinus disease. An oblique fusiform-shaped incision was made and the skin was excised. The operation was completed with primary closure. All patients' follow-up examinations were made at the end of the 6 weeks and 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean duration of symptoms was 22.09 +/- 17.12 (range, 1-120) months. The mean duration of hospital stay was 5.51 +/- 2.85 (range, 2-17) days. At the end of the follow-up period, the recurrence rate was 5.6 percent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ideal operation for pilonidal sinus disease treatment must be simple and effective. The technique of oblique excision and primary closure may be considered an alternative operation for pilonidal sinus resulting in a low recurrence rate.
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, Etimesgut Military Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. onermentes@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Oner
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mentes
authors.forename: Mahir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bagci
authors.forename: Turker
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bilgin
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozgul
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing