• S A Käser, R Zengaffinen, M Uhlmann, C Glaser, and C A Maurer.
• Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Thoracic Surgery, Hospital of Baselland, affiliated to the University of Basel, Rheinstrasse 26, 4410, Liestal, Switzerland.
• Int J Colorectal Dis. 2015 Jan 1;30(1):97-103.

PurposeOff-midline procedures seem to be the best method of primary wound closure after excision of a pilonidal sinus. Primary wound closure with a Limberg flap was compared to secondary wound healing.MethodsFrom January 2006 to July 2012, 102 patients with given informed consent (mean age 28 years, men 81%) who had excision of a pilonidal sinus in three hospitals in Switzerland were randomised to group L (Limberg flap, n = 51) or to group E (excision only, n = 51). Primary endpoint was duration of incapacity for work. Follow-up was at 3 weeks and at 1 year postoperative (95% follow-up).ResultsBoth groups were comparable with regard to patient characteristics. The median (range) operation time was 60 (30-80) min in group L vs. 30 (10-75) min in group E (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in postoperative pain and painkiller intake; pain, percentage of patients at work and overall satisfaction at 3 weeks postoperative; and overall duration of incapacity for work and overall satisfaction at 1-year follow-up. The complication rate was 49% in group L vs. 12% in group E (p < 0.001). Complications in group L were seroma (6%), wound dehiscence (45%), skin necrosis (10%), hematoma (6%), infection (4%) and recurrent disease (13%). Complications in group E were recurrent disease (6%) and wound healing disorder (6%).ConclusionsAfter excision of a pilonidal sinus, primary wound closure with a Limberg flap has no advantage over secondary wound healing. The main reason for this conclusion is the relatively high complication rate of primary wound closure with a Limberg flap.

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