Pilonidal Sinus Surgery: Symptoms,Causes,Treatments

A pilonidal sinus (PNS) is a small skin hole or tunnel that may become filled with pus or fluid, leading to the formation of a cyst or abscess. It appears in the cleft at the top of the buttocks and causes severe pain.

A pilonidal cyst usually contains dirt, hair, and debris, which oozes out pus and blood and emits a foul odour if infected. Young adults and men who sit for an extended period, such as cab drivers, are more prone to this condition.

Pilonidal sinus is a painful condition that needs immediate medical attention and treatment. Don't worry; it can be treated easily with laser surgery!

Causes of Pilonidal Sinus

The exact cause of this condition is unknown, but it is considered to be caused by a change in hormones (because it occurs after puberty), hair growth, and friction from clothing or sitting for an extended period of time.

Activities that cause friction, such as sitting, can cause hair to burrow back under the skin. The body recognises this hair as a foreign body and mounts an immune response against it, similar to how it would react to a splinter. This immune response causes the cyst to form around the hair. A person can also have multiple sinuses that connect beneath the skin.

Symptoms of Pilonidal Sinus

Know the symptoms of Pilonidal Sinus:

Diagnosis of pilonidal sinus

The doctor thoroughly examines the affected area near the tailbone to determine the cause of the pilonidal sinus. Based on the diagnosis, the treatment is recommended. To make the initial diagnosis, the doctor performs an external check, both visually and by touch. In some cases, an MRI scan (an imaging diagnostic test) is also recommended to confirm pilonidal sinus.

Treatment for Pilonidal Sinus

Antibiotics are commonly used to treat this condition. However, the tunnel is quite deep into the skin, so there is no permanent cure. The only permanent solution is to surgically remove the sinus from the skin level deep into the tissue to the end of the tunnel, where the tough hair that acts as the infection's seed is found. And once the entire sinus is removed, the problem is permanently solved.

The best option to treat this condition is surgery. Depending on the evaluation of your condition, the doctor may suggest surgery. Some of the surgeries are laser treatment, pilonidal cystectomy, and advanced flap surgery.

Laser Treatment for Pilonidal Sinus

During this painless and scarless surgery, a laser beam removes debris and pus from the pilonidal sinus. The sinus is removed, and the wound heals without stitches.

First, the entire sinus is cleaned, then a laser beam is passed into it, and the tract is destroyed using a radial laser fibre without leaving a large wound or needing a flap.

Reasons to choose laser surgery for pilonidal sinus:

The patient can go home after 24 hours of the surgery and can return to a regular work routine in 2-3 days.

Frequently Asked Questions