Comparative Analysis of Two Different Treatment Methods in Pilonidal Sinus Disease in Childhood: Phenol and Surgical Excision

Abstract

Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is a common infectious and chronic inflammatory problem in the pediatric age group with no precise incidence data. PSD is more common in the pediatric age group between the ages of 15-17 due to rush routine educational activities in this age group, such as university entrance examinations. It is essential to early back to the daily routine, which the patient and parent highly desire, after treatment in PSD. This study was performed between December 2016 and March 2020. The files of 152 pediatric patients treated for PSD were analyzed retrospectively. The study group included 96 boys (63.2%) and 56 girls (36.8%). Eighty-five patients (55.9%) underwent phenol application, 41 (27.0%) underwent surgery, and 26 (17.1%) children underwent multiple procedures. The mean age of the patients was 16.2±1.39 years. The mean follow-up time was 21.6±12.2 months, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.2±4.4 kg/m2. In the phenol group, the mean age was 16.3±1.2 years, the mean follow-up time was 17.3±9.55 months, and the mean BMI was 24.6±4.31 kg/m2. In the surgical group, the mean age was 16.0±1.74 years, the follow-up time was 35.6±3.82 months, and the mean BMI was 25.6±4.66 kg/m2. The patients' demographic data were gathered age, gender, BMI, type of procedure, number of applications, follow-up, complications, recurrence rate, and postoperative complication. Phenol application has essential advantages over surgical procedures in treating PSD, such as simple application, short hospitalization, cost-effectiveness, and low complication rates. To sum up, the phenol procedure is a straightforward treatment method that reduces complication rates and provides an early return to ordinary life.