LASER ABLATION FOR PILONIDAL DISEASE

AIM: to evaluate short-term results of pilonidal disease treatment using different methods: the excision of pilonidal sinus and fistula with open wound healing, the primary closure of the wound and the laser ablation (2017-2019).PATIENTS AND METHODS: ninety patients with pilonidal disease without abscess were included in the comparative non-randomized study. The control group included 30 patients with excision and open wound healing. The first main group included 30 patients with the excision of pilonidal sinus and fistula with primary wound closure. The second main group included 30 patients with laser ablation of pilonidal sinus and fistula. The evaluation criteria included gender, age, BMI, number of previous procedures, operative time, hospital stay, postoperative pain intensity (VAS), cosmetic result (VAS), complication rate and recurrence rate.RESULTS: all three groups were homogeneous in gender, age, BMI. The control group showed no complications (р<0.0001) and no recurrence (р<0.0001) rate but had more intensive pain (mean 5.9 points; р<0.0001) and worse cosmetic result (mean 4.4 points; р<0.0001). The group with primary wound closure (1st main group) had the highest complication rate (23.4%; р=0.004) and recurrence rate (16.7%; р=0.02). The group with laser ablation had significantly shorter hospital stay (1.1 days; р<0.0001), good cosmetic result (mean 8.9 points; р<0.0001) and less postoperative pain (1.4 points; р<0.0001) with low recurrence rate (3.3%; p=0.32).CONCLUSION: the laser ablation of pilonidal sinus and fistula provides less postoperative pain intensity and low recurrence rate, better cosmetic result and short hospital stay. It can be used for outpatient treatment.