title: Short and long-term results of the Karydakis flap versus the Limberg flap for treating pilonidal sinus disease: a prospective randomized study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pilonidal sinus is a common disease that mostly affects young people. Although various surgical techniques have been described for treating sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease (SPD), controversy still exists as to the best surgical technique. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency and short-term and long-term results of the Karydakis flap with that of the Limberg flap for treating SPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective randomized study, 269 patients with SPD were recruited to undergo either the Karydakis flap (n = 135) or the Limberg flap (n = 134) procedure between September 2004 and September 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operative time for the Karydakis group (42.32 ± 8.64 minutes) was shorter than that for the Limberg group (50.14 ± 6.96 minutes) (P = .01). The complication rate for the Karydakis group (n = 15 [11.1%]) was lower than that for the Limberg group (n = 28 [20.8%]) (P = .029). The visual analogue scale score for postoperative pain at the operation site on the 30th day was lower in the Karydakis group than in the Limberg group (2.22 ± 1.01 vs 3.23 ± 1.14, P = .01). The visual analogue scale score for satisfaction with the cosmetic appearance of the scars in the Karydakis group was 7.08 ± 1.75, whereas it was 3.16 ± 1.40 in the Limberg group at the 3rd month (P = .01). Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the Karydakis group than in the Limberg group (3.40 ± .94 vs 3.8 ± 1.19 days, P = .03). Only 4 patients in the Karydakis group developed recurrence (3%), whereas 9 patients (6.9%) did so in the Limberg group (P = .151).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Karydakis flap procedure should be chosen instead of the Limberg flap for treating uncomplicated SPD because of its lower postoperative complication rate, lower pain scores, shorter operation time and length of hospital stay, and good cosmetic satisfaction. However, no differences existed between the 2 surgical procedures in terms of recurrence prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Malatya State Hospital, Malatya, Turkey. drmustafaates@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ates
authors.forename: Abuzer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dirican
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarac
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Cemil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D049291:Seroma / Q000209:etiology; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult