Risk factors for recurrence after pilonidal sinus surgery in children and adolescents

Abstract

Background: Acquired pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is a condition involving hair bundles most commonly located in the midline of the sacrococcygeal region. The aim of this study is to investigate the risk factors for recurrence after the surgical treatment of PSD in children and adolescents.
Methods: This retrospective study was conducted with patients who underwent surgery for PDS at the Paediatric Surgery Clinic of Karaman State Hospital between July 2010 and December 2018. Age, gender, weight, and height of the patients were recorded. Whether or not there was a recurrence after the surgery as well as the factors affecting recurrence in the cases with recurrence were examined.
Results: A total of 86 PSD patients were included in the study. Of these, 36 (41.9%) were girls and 50 (58.1%) were boys. The mean follow-up period was 15.1 ± 8.4 months. Their mean age was 15.16 ± 1.29 years. Postoperative recurrence developed in 14 patients (16.3%). Postoperative recurrence was significantly higher in those who were overweight than in those of normal weight (p < 0.001) and in females when compared to males (p = 0.014). Gender and BMI were interrelated as risk factors. The effect of female gender on the likelihood of recurrence was threefold that of BMI.
Conclusion: It was observed in this study that female gender and a high BMI significantly increased the risk of PSD recurrence after surgery.