Comparison of Limberg Flap and Modified Limberg Flap in Pilonidal Sinus Surgery in Adolescents

Abstract

Objective: Pilonidal sinus is a common condition in the adolescent patient group. Although many techniques have been used to treat pilonidal sinus disease in adults, few studies have compared surgical treatment methods used in the adolescent age group. In this study, we compared the Limberg flap technique with the modified Limberg flap technique in the adolescent age group. Method: In this study, 21 adolescent patients who were operated for pilonidal sinus between January 2019 and February 2020 were grouped according to the surgical method applied. Demographic data of the patients, body mass index, time of admission to the hospital, medical treatment status, presence of abscess, number of sinuses, duration of hospitalization, timing of drain removal, wound healing time, maceration at the wound site, recurrence, wound discharge, painless sitting time, time to return to social life and post-operative satisfaction were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Limberg Flap (Group A) was applied to 11 patients and Modified Limberg Flap (Group B) technique was applied to 10 patients of 21 patients operated for pilonidal sinus. The mean age in group A was 15.63±1.62 and in group B, the mean age was 14.30±1.70. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of age, gender, body mass index, duration of application, medical treatment status, presence of abscess, number of sinuses, duration of hospitalization, time of drain removal, wound healing time, recurrence, wound discharge, painless sitting time, return to social life duration and patient satisfaction. However, maceration was statistically higher in the Limberg flap technique group. Conclusion: The modified Limberg flap technique applied in adolescents is a more reliable method compared to the Limberg flap technique in terms of postoperative complications such as maceration. © Copyright Turkey Association of Pediatric Surgery. This journal published by Logos Medical Publishing.