BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess treatment outcomes of the cleft lift procedure and V-Y flap technique in the treatment of recurrent pilonidal sinus disease (PSD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 51 patients who underwent cleft lift procedure and 43 patients who underwent fasciocutaneous V-Y flap technique were evaluated. The demographic characteristics, previous operations, duration of symptoms, perioperative complications, duration of operation and hospital stay, duration of draining of all patients, and recurrence of PSD were recorded.

RESULTS: The mean operation time was 35.61±5.254 min in the cleft lift group (CLG) and 57.42±7.327 min in the V-Y flap group (VYFG) (p=0.001). No wound dehiscence was found in the VYFG and 5 patients (9.8%) had wound dehiscence in the CLG (p=0.035). Draining time was 1.39±0.603 days in the CLG and 2.79±0.638 days in VYFG (p=0.001). The mean hospital stay was 1.75±0.523 days in the CLG and 3.77±1.02 days in the VYFG (p=0.001). Two patients (3.9%) in the CLG had recurrence and no recurrence was reported in the VYFG (p=0.189) in the given time interval.

CONCLUSIONS: Both methods in treatment of recurrent PSD can be preferred because of low complication and recurrence rates. Because no recurrence was found after the V-Y flap technique, it appears to be a preferable method despite some disadvantages.

Keywords: Pilonidal Sinus, Recurrence, Surgical Flaps