This is literally a pain in the backside. Patients with pilonidal disease suffer from chronic irritation, soilage, infections and abscess formation in the skin over the tailbone. Drainage procedures, wound care with dressings and/or packing these wounds can go on for weeks. The wound care is not something you can do by yourself and this only incurs more expense.
Simple incision and drainage procedures can be effective and are a first line treatment. Strong consideration should be made early on for laser hair removal as the presence of thick coarse body hair is an issue in many, though certainly not all patients.
Recurrent disease is treated with surgical excision of the area; the wound may be left open requiring prolonged daily wound care for weeks. Vacuum assisted closure devices, or VAC, also are used, again for weeks. Dressings are changed 3 times a week but the patient must carry the vacuum pump with them at all times.
Excision and closure with flap techniques such as rhomboid flaps and Cleft Lift procedures have advantages in fewer operations, hopefully one or two, limited hospitalization time and excellent cure rates. Recurrence rates as low as 1% has been found in larger studies. Plastic surgery training places great emphasis on wound management and flap procedures.
Call for a consultation and we can review your issues and concerns. 605-334-1930
