The Use of the CO 2 Laser in Pilonidal Sinus Disease: Preliminary Results of an Ambulatory Prospective Study

Abstract

During a period of 18 months, from January 1988 to June 1989, 70 patients were treated for pilonidal sinus disease in a multispecialty military clinic. There were 62 men and 8 women, with a median age of 19 years (range 18–35). All were managed as outpatients under local anesthesia. When an abscess was involved, the surgical procedure included incision, drainage, curettage, peroxide irrigation, and CO₂ laser therapy. For the other processes, the surgical procedure included excision of sinus tissue and lateral fistulas, curettage, peroxide irrigation, and CO₂ laser therapy with secondary healing. Morbidity was minimal. Healing time ranged from 14 days to 8 weeks, yet most sinuses healed in 4 weeks. The complications observed, pain, bleeding, and skin bridging, were minor. All recurrences but three were minor and healed completely after additional local treatment (4.3% major recurrences). Preliminary satisfactory results are re