Outcomes reported in comparative studies of surgical management of pilonidal disease: Systematic review to…

Systematic reviewColorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland· Jul 2026

Outcomes reported in comparative studies of surgical management of pilonidal disease: Systematic review to inform a core outcome set.

Zubing Mei, Cheng Tang, Hui Zang … De Zheng

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Colon & Rectal SurgerySystematic reviewQ2IF 1.4

Recurrence is the most frequently reported outcome in pilonidal surgery studies

Outcomes reported in comparative studies of surgical management of pilonidal disease: Systematic review to inform a core outcome set.

Zubing Mei … De Zheng

Colorectal disease · Jul 2026 · Q2 in Gastroenterology

Background

Evidence synthesis in pilonidal disease surgery is limited by heterogeneity in outcome selection, definition, measurement and follow-up.

Purpose

This systematic review aimed to identify and describe outcomes reported in comparative studies of surgical management of pilonidal disease to inform development of a core outcome set.

Methods

Randomised controlled trials and comparative observational studies evaluating surgical interventions for pilonidal disease were eligible.

n = 155 studies

Results

recurrence tracked more often than any other outcome, still no standard way to measure it

72.3%

Recurrence

66.5%

Non-infective complica

53.5%

Pain

52.9%

Wound healing

More results

Ten outcome domains were identified.

Patient-important domains were less frequently reported, including health-related quality of life or satisfaction (50, 32.3%) and cosmesis (17, 11.0%).

Among outcomes designated as primary, wound healing was most common (51 studies, 32.9%), followed by recurrence (35, 22.6%) and postoperative complications (25, 16.1%).

More results

Pain (6, 3.9%), return to normal activities/work (9, 5.8%), and psychological or quality-of-life outcomes (3, 1.9%) were rarely primary outcomes.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Comparative studies of pilonidal disease surgery predominantly prioritise recurrence, healing and complications, whereas patient-important outcomes are reported less consistently and are infrequently prioritised.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Standardisation of outcome selection, definitions and measurement is needed. These findings support development of a core outcome set for future trials in pilonidal disease surgery.

Outcomes reported in comparative studies of surgical management of pilonidal disease: Systematic review to inform a core outcome set.

Outcomes reported in comparative studies of surgical management of pilonidal disease: Systematic review to inform a core outcome set.

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