PILONIDAL ABSCESS

Pilonidal is a condition in which hair grows/collected under the skin in nata cleft (Space between two buttocks).

Pilonidal sinus is a abnormal track from deeper infection below to the skin. The track usually travels vertically which may progress with time.

The exact cause of the pilonidal sinus is not known. Some people are born with a pit where hair is trapped between buttocks and with age sinus develops. In some cases the pit may develop with constant pressure.

Some of the conditions which increases the incedence include

A job involving a lot of sitting (a sedentary occupation)

Being overweight (obesity)

A previous persistent irritation or injury to the affected area

Having a hairy, deep natal cleft

A family history of the condition

Drivers

Treatment options:

I follow a simple alogorithm for traetment of pilonidal conditions

1. When the abscess develops in a short span of time (Acute abscess) and pain and infection are not severe then it can be treated with course of antibiotics for 5 days and planned defenitive surgery with in 6 weeks.
2. When the abscess develops in a short span of time (Acute abscess) and pain and infection are severe then it can be treated with immediate excision
3. When it’s a recurrent chronic condition then planned surgery is done.

I offer the following surgical options depending on the condition

1. If infection is less and there is no contamination of surgical site then excision and primary closure.
2. If surgical site is contaminated then excision and healing by seconday intention.

Both above procedures are simple with no other added complications and will be enough to treat about 90% conditions so I would always prefer to perform simple wide excision +/- primary closure for all the pilonidal conditions as a first choice.

If condition reccurs then a advanced procedure which involves mobilising and closure with flap can be performed.

Pilonidal sinus is minor condition but problomatic because of the place it affects.