Short-term and long-term outcomes of the cleft lift procedure in the management of nonacute pilonidal disorders.
OBJECTIVE
We report the results of the cleft lift procedure in the management of nonacute pilonidal sinus disorders.


METHODS
Seventy consecutive patients who underwent a cleft lift for nonacute pilonidal sinus were evaluated prospectively. Responses to a postal questionnaire were analyzed for long-term outcome.


RESULTS
All patients who fulfilled the criteria for day-case were operated on as such. Sixty-six patients achieved complete wound healing within six weeks. Delayed wound healing occurred in three patients and nonhealing occurred in one. Fourteen patients had one or more complications: wound breakdown, superficial (n = 7) and deep (n = 1); wound infection (n = 5); wound seroma (n = 4); and early recurrence (n = 1). The median time off work and to return to normal activities was two and four weeks, respectively (range, 0.5-12). Forty-seven patients completed the questionnaire at a median follow-up of 24 months: five patients reported minimal tenderness in the sacral region; none reported recurrence of pilonidal symptoms; and all were satisfied.


CONCLUSIONS
The cleft lift procedure is easy to perform as a day-case procedure. It is associated with high rates of primary healing, durable low recurrence rates, and early functional recovery. This technique may be the procedure of choice in the surgical management of nonacute pilonidal disorders.
Abdelrazeq
Ayman S
AS
Department of General Surgery, York District Hospital, York, United Kingdom. aymonrazeq@yahoo.co.uk
Rahman
Mujeeb
M
Botterill
Ian D
ID
Alexander
David J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing