Pilonoidal Sinus Surgery

A pilonoidal sinus is an area of chronic infection and/or inflammation in the skin between the buttocks. It commonly contains hair.

A pilonoidal sinus predisposes to abscess formation. A pilonidal abscess is a pocket of infected material (pus) which develops rapidly, causes pain, swelling and redness of the skin. It requires emergency surgical treatment to drain away the pus.

Longer term even without abscess formation, patients may seek treatment for pilonidal sinus due to chronic discharge and pain. This involved excising the affected area with some surrounding normal tissue. The area can then be left open to heal, closed with sutures or closed with a flap repair.