Publication
Title
Does minimally invasive laser-assisted treatment of pilonidal sinus disease live up to its expectations : a multi-center study with 226 patients
Author
Abstract
PurposeThe minimally invasive character, the possibility to perform under local anesthesia, and the ease to repeat have led to increasing popularity of laser-assisted treatment of pilonidal sinus disease. Hereby, potentially avoiding prolonged need for medical care at home, incapacity to work, and high expenses for patients and society. This retrospective, multi-center study is aimed at evaluating the feasibility of laser-assisted treatment for pilonidal sinus disease.MethodsThe patient population is comprised of all patients undergoing laser-assisted treatment of pilonidal sinus disease at three Belgian hospitals between January 2017 and December 2021. Data were retrospectively collected. The primary endpoint was overall wound healing after one or more laser assisted procedures.ResultsA total of 226 patients were included with a mean follow-up time of 129 days [7-1120]. The healing rate after one laser procedure was 78.8%. Some of these patients were healed by a second or third procedure adding up to an overall healing rate of 85.4% after one or more laser procedures. Wound infections were the main postoperative complication (8.0%) of which 5 patients required drainage (2.2%). For 29 patients (12.8%), laser-assisted treatment was insufficient, leading to a secondary operation (drainage, excision, or flap).ConclusionThis study shows that laser-assisted treatment is feasible for pilonidal sinus disease. The minimally invasive character of this technique might make up for a higher non-healing rate compared to other techniques like flap repair. However, care must be taken that healing rate might be related to the presentation of the sinus and expectations should be lowered as presumed high healing rates are not always achieved.
Language
English
Source (journal)
International journal of colorectal disease. - Berlin, 1986, currens
Publication
Berlin : Springer , 2023
ISSN
0179-1958 [print]
1432-1262 [online]
DOI
10.1007/S00384-023-04324-W
Volume/pages
38 :1 (2023) , p. 1-7
Article Reference
33
ISI
000932689900001
Pubmed ID
36763170
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 04.04.2023
Last edited 30.06.2024
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