Pilonidal sinus disease can be treated with crystallized phenol using a simple three-step technique

Abstract

Introduction: Pilonidal sinus disease can be treated with various surgical techniques. However, invasive surgical techniques harbor the risk of wound infection and require a long postoperative wound healing period. The treatment of pilonidal sinus disease with crystallized phenol is minimally invasive with a short postoperative recovery period. This article explains how to treat pilonidal sinus disease with crystallized phenol using a quick and easy three-step technique.

Methods: Between August 2014 and January 2016, 43 male and 7 female patients with pilonidal sinus disease were treated with crystallized phenol. Hair was gently removed from the sinus openings with a mosquito clamp. Afterwards, the pilonidal sinus openings were gently filled with crystallized phenol.

Results: The closure of pilonidal sinus openings without any leakage after a single application of crystallized phenol was accepted as healing. The treatment failed in two of the female patients, who had had prior pilonidal sinus surgery, and in four of the male patients, who had a recurrence after wound site infection. The overall cure rate was 88%.

Conclusions: Treatment of pilonidal sinus disease with crystallized phenol using the three-step technique is simple, fast, and comfortable. Therefore, crystallized phenol should be preferentially considered in the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease.