A comparison of functional and cosmetic outcomes of limberg flap method with primary repair in pilonidal sinus surgery

Pilonidal sinus is a chronic disease of the gluteal region. This study has retrospectively investigated the functional and cosmetic outcomes in the patients who underwent surgeries, where Limberg flap (LF) or primary repair (PR) methods, were used in our clinic due to a pilonidal sinus.
A total of 36 patients, who were operated due to the diagnosis of a pilonidal sinus between June 2015 and June 2017, were included in the study. The following data associated with the patients were recorded, including the age, gender, findings at the operation, the postoperative complications, complaints in the gluteal regions due to the incision line, and the recurrence status. In addition, during the follow-up period, the satisfaction and complaints of the patients in both groups were recorded in regards to the surgery they underwent.
Of the patients included in the study, 24 were males and 12 were females. The average age of the patients was 16.5. In the group of patients who underwent a primary repair, a surgical wound infection in three patients, a wound dehiscence in one patient, and recurrences in two patients were observed in the early postoperative period. In the patient group who were operated with LF method, a recurrence was observed in one patient in the late postoperative period. The mean level of patient satisfaction in the third postoperative month was 2.73±0.88 in the PR group and 3.06±0.70 in LF group.
The functional and cosmetic outcomes of the Limberg flap method or the primary repair method used in the pilonidal sinus surgery are open to debate. It is suggested that further extensive prospective studies are required on this subject.