Treatment of young patients with pilonidal sinus disease with the original (unmodified) Limberg flap standardized for the first time

Abstract

Background Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is commonly seen in young adults but may also affect adolescents. Our goal was to present results from operated patients, with a focus on the original Limberg flap, which we standardized for the first time. Methods This study was a retrospective review of 60 teenage patients who underwent surgery in a single pediatric surgery center over approximately 15 years. Results Of the 60 patients, 33 (55%) were male and the mean age was 14.20 +/- 1.31 (9-17) years. After pilonidal sinus excision, primary repair and Limberg flap were performed in 45 (75%) and 15 (25%) patients respectively. There were no complications in the patients who underwent the Limberg flap technique, whereas 49% of the patients who underwent primary repair exhibited complications. The mean follow-up was 6.7 +/- 4.8 years. Conclusion We standardized the Limberg flap for the first time in children with measurements and consider that it meets expectations: it is not difficult to perform, it has low complication and recurrence rates, it requires an acceptable period to return to normal activities, and gives satisfactory cosmetic results. We did not identify any complications in patients treated with the Limberg flap excision and post-operative epilation. We consider that findings achieved by the treatment of original, standardized Limberg flap excision is comparable with all of the treatment methods reported in the literature related with children.