Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Flap Thickness In Patients With Pilonidal Sinus - Original Article

Background and Objective: Various risk factors have been defined for recurrence in pilonidal disease. This study was designed to investigate the local subcutaneous tissue thickness in patients who were operated on for sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease. Materials and Methods: Ninety-eight patients who had been operated on with the diagnosis of pilonidal sinus were retrospectively evaluated between January 2008 and January 2014. In evaluation of the flap thickness, the nearest and farthest margins were measured by ultrasonography between the skin and sacrum. Results: Resection and primary closure and Limberg flap transposition were performed in 46 (46.9%) and 52 (53.1%) patients, respectively. Mean flap thickness was found to be 17.2 mm (range: 3.9 - 36.4) and 20.5 mm (range: 4.0 - 42.3) in the primary repair group and the Limberg group, respectively. The recurrence rate was 10.8% in the primary repair group, 3.8% in the Limberg group at a mean of 27.1 months (range: 12-54 months) of follow-up. Conclusion: Subcutaneous tissue thickness in the place of surgery was greater in patients with the Limberg flap procedure compared to the patients with primary closure in pilonidal sinus disease. Flap thickness may be a parameter that can be used to predict the possibilty of recurrence