title: Video-assisted ablation of pilonidal sinus: a new minimally invasive treatment--a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We hypothesized that video-assisted ablation of pilonidal sinus could be an effective, minimally invasive treatment of pilonidal sinus. This new, minimally invasive treatment allows the identification of the sinus cavity with its lateral tracks, destruction and the removal of all infected tissue, and the removal of any hair.
  
  
  METHODS
  All consecutive patients with primary sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus were screened for enrolment in our study. We analyzed time off work, time to walk without pain, time to sitting on the toilet without pain, recurrences, wound infections, and patient satisfaction (pain, health status, and aesthetic appearance).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed 27 patients. All procedures were successful, with complete ablation of the sinus cavity. No infection and only 1 recurrence were recorded during the follow-up (1 year) with an immediate return to work and normal activities. In addition, patient satisfaction and aesthetic appearance were high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results are encouraging and suggest that this technique may offer a very effective way to treat pilonidal sinus. Further studies are necessary to validate its use in daily practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: milone.marco@alice.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milone
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musella
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Spiezio Sardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bifulco
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sosa Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zizolfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nappi
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Milone
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012008:Recurrence; D062707:Return to Work; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*