title: Pilonidal sinus in Japan maritime self-defense force at Yokosuka.
abstract: Pilonidal sinus is known to be common among soldiers but not among Asian individuals. Few reports have discussed the occurrence of pilonidal sinus in the navy. We analyzed the incidence and etiological factors of 12 cases (11 patients, with 1 recurrence) of pilonidal sinus diagnosed between 1998 and 2004 in Japan Self-Defense Force Hospital Yokosuka. All patients were male, and all lesions were in the sacral area. The patients' average age and body mass index were 29.1 years and 27.4, respectively. The surgical procedures used were primary closures (10 cases, 83.3%) and flaps (two cases, 16.7%), and the number of postoperative hospital days averaged 11.8. Pilonidal sinus was not found to be significantly common among Japan Self-Defense Force personnel in general (7 of 11 patients with pilonidal sinus; not significant); however, it was significantly more common among the crew members of Japan Self-Defense Force ships (seven of seven patients; p < 0.05), which suggests that the on-board lifestyle contributes to the occurrence of pilonidal sinus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, Japan Self-Defense Force Hospital Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chijiwa
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suganuma
authors.forename: Toshimichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takigawa
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edogawa
authors.forename: Kimitoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yanagida
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hatada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002959:Civil Defense; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009326:Naval Medicine; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region; D012767:Ships