Pilonidal Sinus Disease

A pilonidal sinus is a ‘nest of hairs’ trapped deep under the skin in the groove between the buttocks. Inflammation associated with this nest can cause pain, swelling, and discharge. Antibiotics can calm the infections and therefore the inflammation down but until the nest has been removed it will continue to occur.

Surgical options are varied and can range from simple techniques to clean out the nest, fistuloscopic (keyhole) procedures to do the same, and resections of the nest followed by a flap repair to fill and cover the gap left by the surgical resection. The severity of the pilonidal disease you have will dictate the options available and the likely recovery from the procedure.

Simpler procedures can be done without an overnight stay and a return to work within a couple of days whereas the more complex resection and flap procedures will require some time in hospital and weeks before full work duties can be performed.