title: Regenerative medicine for the definitive surgical repair of pilonidal sinus. A new method of wound reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing surgery for complex (> or =3 tracks) or recurrent pilonidal sinus (PS) was performed; the results of this clinical experience were compared with an original method of primary wound closure, coupling a "tension-free" technique of wound reconstruction with autologous cryoplatelet gel application, in order to improve the wound healing process and reduce the postoperative disability period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective analysis included 30 patients undergoing surgery for PS between January 2003 and May 2005: in the first group of 15 consecutive patients, the wound was left open to close secondarily while in the remaining 15 patients, primary closure by means of a "tension-free" technique of wound reconstruction was attempted. Between June 2005 and May 2006, another subset of 15 patients was prospectively recruited, coupling the "tension-free" technique of wound reconstruction with autologous cryoplatelet gel application.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first group of patients, median postoperative disability accounted for 65 days with one recurrence. In the second group, primary healing was achieved in 11 patients, with a median postoperative disability of 28 days; two recurrences did occur. In the third group of patients, primary healing was achieved in all patients within 14 to 29 days, and no recurrence has yet been detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short follow-up notwithstanding, the simplicity of the operation, the use of autologous products and the minimal postoperative disability with complete wound healing suggest that this new approach may represent a useful alternative to current surgical techniques for PS excision.
authors.affiliation: General Surgery, Colo-Rectal Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reboa
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gipponi
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scala
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dalla Costa
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strada
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014945:Wound Healing