PILONIDAL SINUS DISEASE: COMPARISON OF EXCISION AND PRIMARY CLOSURE VERSES EXCISION AND HEALING BY SECONDARY INTENTION
Introduction: Sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease is a serious health concern because of its associatedcomplications and recurrence. Pilonidal sinus disease is presented with symptoms ranging fromasymptomatic pits to painful draining lesions that are predominantly located in the sacrococcygeal region. Itis characterized by multiple subcutaneous sinuses, containing hairs. The exact etiology of the disease is notknown. Various treatment options are available. The choice of a particular surgical approach depends on thesurgeon's familiarity with the procedure and perceived results. The present study was aimed to compare twotreatment regimens i.e.excision and primary closure verses excision and healing by secondary intention.Patients and methods: The study was conducted in the department of surgery, Saidu Teaching HospitalSaidu Sharif Swat. Forty nine (49) human subjects with informed consent were included in the study.Patients were divided in two groups, depending on their preference and acceptance of the procedure.Patients in group A under went excision of the tract with primary closure of the defect by primary simpleclosure, Rhomboid Limberg flap or by Karydakis procedure. Patients in group B were those in whom sinustracts were excised and wound was left open for healing by secondary intention.Results: Out of the total 49 patients 3 (6.122%) were female. Mean age was 26 years (range 18-40years).Group A comprised of 24 patients in whom wide local excision was performed and wound was closedprimarily while Group B comprised of 25 patients who underwent wide local excision and wound was leftopen for healing by secondary intention. Mean hospital stay of patients in group B was significantly longerthan group A (p=0.002). The mean time for complete healing of the wound after primary closure wasmarkedly shorter.mConclusion: Primary closure of the wound after excision of the sinus tract is preferable over simple excisionand healing by secondary intention.Key words; Pilonidal sinus, primary closure, simple excision.