The aim of this study was to determine the impact of crystallized phenol on the outpatient treatment of pilonidal disease. A retrospective analysis was undertaken of patients seen in the outpatient surgery clinic of the University Hospital, Elazlg, Turkey. Age, gender, body mass index, characteristics of sinuses at initial presentation, and the recovery time of 41 patients were analyzed. The relationship between recovery time and the number of sinus openings, presence of abscess, and status of the sinuses (acute vs. chronic) were noted. Crystallized phenol was applied a total of 107 times on 41 patients. Seventy percent of the patients had two to three applications. Mean recovery time was 42.7 (+/- standard deviation of 24) days with a range of 13 to 120 days. Recurrences were observed in only two patients at the fifth and eighth months following recovery. The success rate was 95.1 percent. Median follow-up was 24 (range, 6-98) months. The status of sinuses (acute vs. chronic and presence or absence of abscess) and the number of sinus opening had no effect on recovery time (P > 0.005). Crystallized phenol treatment is a simple and inexpensive method that can be readily applied on an outpatient basis, decreasing both the recurrence rate and lost work time. We suggest that this method be considered the first-line treatment of any type of pilonidal sinus.

Small bowel obstruction due to anomalous congenital peritoneal bands – case series in adults

BACKGROUND:Toothpick ingestion is implicated in bowel injuries that may cause violent complications, mimicking diseases causing acute abdomen. CASE REPORT:A 18-year-old man was admitted with a 3-day history of a swallowed wooden toothpick. The patien...

Pilonidal disease is a common chronic disorder mainly seen in the sacrococcygeal region, especially in young males. Many surgical treatment modalities have been suggested, but an ideal and widely accepted treatment has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to compare quality of life of patients treated with the sinotomy technique with quality of life of patients treated with surgical excision plus primary closure technique by means of quality of life questionnaire. The data of patients who had been treated for pilonidal sinus in our clinic from September 2010 to June 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Forty patients were treated with sinotomy technique and 40 patients were treated with surgical excision plus primary closure technique. Time to return to work and to time to complete wound healing were evaluated. All patients were asked to fill the questionnaire after complete healing occurred. Postoperative complications were bleeding in 2.5%, infection in 3.75% and fever in 2.5% patients. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of complete healing (p=0.1) and sport times (p=0.1). There were significant differences between the groups in terms of length of hospital stay (p≤0.001), time off work (p≤0.001),times to sitting on toilet and walking without pain (p=0.002 and p≤0.001,respectively). The mean postoperative VAS scores were 5.2±3.2 and 2.8±2.2, respectively (p=0.02). The technique of sinotomy with good wound and surrounding skin care seems to be an ideal approach with high chance of cure. The patients returned to their routine in a short period of time.