Inferior Gluteal Artery Perforator Flap for Closure of Sacral Defects after Pilonidal Sinus Surgery

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the current study was to introduce the use of the inferior gluteal artery perforator flap (IGAPF) as a new alternative surgical technique for closure of sacral defects after pilonidal sinus surgery. Patients and Methods: Inferior gluteal artery perforators were used on 15 male patients operated in the plastic and reconstructive surgery deportment of our tertiary care centers between March 2014 and May 2017. Age, size of the defect, duration of follow-up, complications, and recurrence rate were assessed. Results: The average age was 30.2 (range: 17-54) years, and the mean duration of follow-up was 8.2 (range: 7-16) months. No recurrence was detected within the follow-up period, and the only remarkable complication reported was total flap necrosis attributed to venous congestion in one patient. The mean size of the defects after excision was 21.6 cm(2). Conclusion: Our preliminary results imply that IGAPF can be a safe and effective alternative for closure of large defects after pilonidal sinus surgery. Further controlled trials on larger series are warranted to establish the advantages and disadvantages of this alternative technique.