title: Effective conservative treatment of umbilical pilonidal sinus disease: Silver nitrate? Salt?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the three different treatment methods and investigate The effectiveness of the therapeutic effect of common salt.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study involved patients who were treated in our clinic for umbilical pilonidal sinus disease between January 2010 and December 2011. The patients were divided to three subgroups according to treatment methods. Group I: Cases treated with only local debridement and systemic antibiotic, group II: cases treated with local debridement, systemic antibiotic and silver nitrate, group 3: cases treated with debridement, systemic antibiotic and salt.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, 63 patients with the diagnosis of UPS were treated in our clinic. The patients were classified into three groups; group I included 20 patients, group II included 18 patients and group III included 18 patients. During 16-24 months of follow-up, 4 (20%) recurrences in group1 and 2 (11.1%) recurrences in group 2 were detected. Recurrence rate of group 3 was significantly different (5.55%) when compared to group 2. The mean period for returning to daily activities and work was 1 day for the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, we suggest that pilonidal sinus cases which are not complicated by abcess and cellulitis can be treated by local removal of umbilical hairs, debridement and dressing without surgery. We conclude that application of common salt (table/ cooking salt) to umbilical pilonidal sinus with granuloma is a simple and highly effective way of treatment without any relapse and complications.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Conservative treatment, Local debridement, Umblical pilonidal sinus.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sözen
authors.forename: Burhan Hakan
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kanat
authors.forename: Zekiye
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kanat
authors.forename: Ilhan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.forename: Yilmaz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Polat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002424:Caustics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002425:Cautery / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000072700:Conservative Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006204:Hair Removal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014472:Umbilicus; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002424:Caustics; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012835:Silver Nitrate