Minimally invasive pilonidal sinus treatment: A brief review

Abstract

With a prevalence of 26/100,000, pilonidal sinus disease is a frequent natal cleft condition that primarily affects young males. The disease site is often uncomfortable and the disease can result in problems such as abscess formation and recurrent acute or chronic infections. Minimally invasive treatment aims to form a small elliptical wedge of subcutaneous tissue containing all the inflammatory tissue. The sinus and its lateral tracks are removed while keeping the overlying skin intact. Following the notion of “less is more,” novel least invasive treatments such as sinotomy, sinusectomy, trephining, and video-assisted and endoscopic pilonidal sinus surgery have recently been proposed. We look at minimally invasive treatments to explain how research into modern techniques has revealed a low rate of short-term problems.