PILONIDAL DISEASE
PILONIDAL CYST/SINUS
A pilonidal cyst, also called pilonidal sinus, is a common condition caused by hair that grows under the skin. In between the buttock cheeks is common, but other areas can be affected as well.
For a detailed explanation of the disease please read the following excellent summary:
There are no creams or topical ointments that are useful to treat the problem. This is because the problem is the hair that is trapped below the skin.
TREATMENT
If there is a painful infection trapped below the skin this is called an abscess. This should be drained with a small incision. Sometimes sitting in a sitz bath can help drain an area if it has not progressed too far.
If you have a small hole, or holes, that are draining blood and purulent material intermittently there are 3 treatment options:
3. WIDE EXCISION
Third option is a wide excision attempting to remove all of the infected tissue and tunnels below the surface. Dr. Mandelbaum’s practice is to leave these large wounds open. Dressings within the wound are changed daily by home care nurses. The usual healing time is about 2 months. Unfortunately recurrence is a possibility.
2. GIPS PROCEDURE
If you choose to have a GIPS procedure with Dr. Mandelbaum the hair in the area
will be clipped at the time of surgery. After the operation it is best to try and
keep the area free of hair.
1. leave it alone
As long as it’s draining and it is not painful it is not dangerous. If you are able to tolerate the inconvenience consider carefully whether it is worth it for you to attempt an intervention. The surgery with the fewest complications and the least recovery time is the one that is never done.
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