title: Limberg flap for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus a safe and sound procedure.
abstract: Sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus (SC-PSD) is an acquired condition usually seen in young adults especially males. This prospective study has been performed to determine effects of the Limberg flap rotation surgery for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus, its feasibility to the patients, their compliance, and outcomes such as wound infection, postoperative pain relief, recurrence rates, and return to work. A total of 30 patients were operated by the same two surgeons from January 2009 to June 2011, including both primary and recurrent diseases, and patients with previous incision and drainage done for the pilonidal abscess. All patients successfully underwent surgery, with very minimal postoperative pain, stayed in hospital for average 5 days, returned to work after 3 weeks, with 3 patients having flap edema, 2 having flap necrosis, and no recurrences so far. Patients with flap edema and flap necrosis took 2-3 weeks to heal with regular dressing and antibiotic usage. Limberg flap for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus was found very useful and sound in terms of postoperative pain, infection rates, and early return to work with almost nil recurrences.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, St. Martha's Hospital, Bangalore, 560 001 India.
authors.forename: Srikanth K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Aithal
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, St. Martha's Hospital, Bangalore, 560 001 India.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rajan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, St. Martha's Hospital, Bangalore, 560 001 India.
authors.forename: Narender
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reddy
keywords: Flap necrosis; Limberg flap; Sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus; Wound infection