Surgical Treatment Outcomes for Primary Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study of 2222…

Cohort studyInternational wound journal· Aug 2026

Surgical Treatment Outcomes for Primary Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study of 2222 Patients (2006-2020).

Merve Tokocin, Hakan Yigitbas, Erkan Yavuz, Osman Bilgin Gulcicek

Colon & Rectal SurgeryCohort studyTreatment

Karydakis flap was associated with a lower hazard of pilonidal sinus recurrence.

Surgical Treatment Outcomes for Primary Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study of 2222 Patients (2006-2020).

Merve Tokocin … Osman Bilgin Gulcicek

International wound journal · Aug 2026

Background

Pilonidal sinus disease (pilonidal sinus disease) is a common acquired condition of the sacrococcygeal region; despite numerous described surgical techniques, long-term outcomes remain highly variable.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed 2222 patients with primary pilonidal sinus disease who underwent surgery between January 2006 and December 2020 at a single tertiary referral centre in Turkey and had a minimum follow-up of 5 years.

n = 2222 patients

Results

Karydakis flap was associated with significantly lower recurrence risk than lay-open treatment

HR by subgroup · 95% CI

More results

The 5-year cumulative recurrence was 7.9% (175/2222) and postoperative infection 6.9% (154/2222); overall recurrence was 10.2% (226/2222).

Recurrence and infection differed statistically significantly among surgical techniques (both p < 0.001).

More results

The lowest recurrence rates were observed with the Karydakis flap (1.5%), Bascom cleft lift (2.3%) and Dufourmentel flap (2.4%).

Most recurrences occurred within the first 2 years, with a median time to recurrence of 20 months (IQR 12-36).

“

Conclusion

Taken together, the findings of this study support the use of the Karydakis flap and Bascom cleft lift as first-line surgical options for pilonidal sinus disease management.

Surgical Treatment Outcomes for Primary Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study of 2222 Patients (2006-2020).

Surgical Treatment Outcomes for Primary Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study of 2222 Patients (2006-2020).

Related papers