Publication:

Comparative study of laser ablation versus conventional surgery in the management of pilonidal sinus disease

Background Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is conventionally managed through surgical excision (SE) followed by either direct closure (DC) or flap reconstruction. Laser ablation has recently been recognized as a minimally invasive alternative; however, comparative data remain limited.

Methods This retrospective analysis involved 288 patients who received treatment for PSD at a single academic institution from 2010 to 2021.

Results Laser treatment resulted in a significantly reduced operation time (18.2±6.8 min) and decreased sick leave duration (7.1±7.8 days) when compared to the DC and FC groups.

Conclusions The findings indicate that laser ablation serves as a safe and also effective first-line PSD treatment, facilitating quicker recovery and reducing complications. Further long-term, randomized studies are necessary to validate its superiority.