Comparison of outcomes in Z-plasty and delayed healing by secondary intention of the wound after excision of the sacral pilonidal sinus: results of a randomized, clinical trial.

PURPOSE

Pilonidal sinus is a common disease, mostly among young males. Although the conventional surgery, secondary repair of the wound after wide excision with or without curettage, is not technically difficult, it takes a long time, weeks or months, for a wound to heal. In this study, we compared outcomes and complications of Z-plasty repair with outcomes and complications of delayed healing by secondary intention (conventional surgery).

METHODS

In a randomized, clinical trial, we recruited 72 patients in each arm. All of the patients were operated on by a general surgeon and were followed up for variable periods. Patients in the Z-plasty arm were followed for a mean period of 22.01 months. Patients conventional surgery arm were followed for a mean period of 22.23 months. The main studied outcomes were healing of the wound and disease recurrence during the follow-up period. The main complications that were taken into account were bleeding, hematoma, infection, and recurrence.

RESULTS

The two arms were comparable in the age and gender distributions, duration of disease, and history of any types of operations. The duration of hospitalization after the operation was shorter in the conventional surgery group (1.76+/-0.75 days vs. 2.86+/-0.73 days, P<0.001). However, wounds healed much faster in the Z-plasty group (15.4 vs. 41 days, P<0.001). Moreover, it took longer for patients in the conventional surgery group to return to normal activity (17.5 vs. 11.9 days, P<0.001). There was no difference in postoperative complications regarding bleeding, hematoma, infection, or recurrence during the follow-up period in two arms.

CONCLUSIONS

Healing was considerably faster in patients who were treated with Z-plasty technique of wound closure. This procedure can be used as a desirable treatment for pilonidal sinus, which is a noncomplex method without increased rate of complications. Nonetheless, it might slightly increase the duration of hospitalization.