Lower recurrence rate for Limberg vs. V-Y flap for pilonidal sinus.
OBJECTIVE
Pilonidal sinus is a disease that does not have a standardized surgical treatment method. This study was designed to compare the outcomes of Limberg fasciocutaneous transposition and V-Y fasciocutaneous advancement flaps in the treatment of patients with pilonidal sinus.


METHODS
A total of 111 patients (98 males; 88.3 percent; mean age, 27.1 years) who received reconstruction after pilonidal sinus excision in our clinics with Limberg flap (Group 1, n = 66, 59.5 percent) or V-Y flaps (Group 2, n = 45, 40.5 percent) between 1997 and 2004 were investigated retrospectively.


RESULTS
No significant difference was detected between Groups 1 and 2 in terms of gender, history of infection or abscess, mean duration of operation, requirement for analgesics, wound-related complications, such as necrosis, seroma, and infection, and average time off work. Mean follow-up periods were 45.4 vs. 48.8 months in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively (P = 0.337). On the other hand, rate of recurrence was significantly lower in Group 1 (n = 1, 1.5 percent) compared with Group 2 (n = 5, 11.1 percent; P = 0.039).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that, if the defect is to be reconstructed with a flap in pilonidal sinus cases, reconstruction with Limberg flap should be preferred over reconstruction with V-Y flap because of its lower rate of recurrence.
4th General Surgery Clinic, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Yesilyurt, Izmir, Turkey. drhru@mynet.com
Haluk R
HR
Unalp
Hayrullah
H
Derici
Erdinc
E
Kamer
Okay
O
Nazli
Mehmet Ali
MA
Onal
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005205:Fascia / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation*; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014945:Wound Healing