title: A randomized clinical study evaluating the need for drainage after Limberg flap for pilonidal sinus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This prospective randomized clinical study was conducted to evaluate the need for drainage after rhomboid excision and a Limberg flap (RELIF) for the treatment of pilonidal sinus.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred one patients undergoing the RELIF procedure were randomly treated with drainage or not. Operating time, postoperative pain assessed on a visual analogue scale (VAS), total amount of intramuscular analgesic administered, hospital stay, complications, recurrence rate, and patient satisfaction were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operating time (P = 0.036), VAS scores on postoperative day 0 (P = 0.039) and day 1 (P = 0.006), intramuscular analgesic requirement (P = 0.009), mean amount of intramuscular analgesic administered (P = 0.025), complication rate (P = 0.027), and mean hospital stay (P = 0.0001) were significantly reduced in the non-drained group. The recurrence rate was similar in the two groups (P = 0.32).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that drain placement after the RELIF procedure might negatively affect the postoperative outcomes of patients with pilonidal sinus. On the basis of these finding, we suggest that the use of drains may not be necessary after the RELIF procedure for the treatment of pilonidal sinus.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Medical Faculty of Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey. tcolak@mersin.edu.tr
authors.forename: Tahsin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Turkmenoglu
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dag
authors.forename: Tamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akca
authors.forename: Suha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aydin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps