Purpose: Flap procedures following pilonidal excision have high recurrence and dehiscence rates. We present a cosmetic, outpatient technique to reconstruction via bilateral gluteal fasciocutaneous advancement flaps with and without tie-over sutures.
Methods: This is a prospective case series of 51 patients (40 males and 11 females). Following elliptical excision of pilonidal disease, gluteal fasciocutaneous advancement flaps were elevated circumferentially using blunt, discontinuous dissection, and a multilayered closure was performed. The resulting scar was midline. Thirty-five patients (68.6%) also had two full-thickness, compressing sutures tied over rolled up gauze.
Results: Patients had a mean age of 28.2 and body mass index of 26.8. Eight (15.9%) were smokers and 11 (21.6%) were obese. At a mean follow-up of 38.7 months, there were no recurrences and 19 (37.3%) patients had wound dehiscence. There was no significant difference in dehiscence between patients with and without tie-over sutures (31.4% vs 50%, P = 0.20). There was no significant difference in dehiscence between smokers and non-smokers, (62.5% vs 41.9%, P = 0.47), or between obese and non-obese patients (36.4% vs 46.3%, P = 0.51). Obese patients with tie-over sutures had significantly less dehiscence compared to obese patients without tie-over sutures (14% vs 75%, P = 0.03).
Conclusion: Bilateral gluteal fasciocutaneous advancement flap with consideration of tie-over sutures is an outpatient treatment for chronic pilonidal disease with resultant midline scar and with no recurrence in our series.
Keywords: Wound; healing; surgical infection.