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German national guideline on the management of pilonidal disease

Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery volume 401, pages 599–609 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The present national guideline aims to provide recommendations for physicians involved in the treatment of patients with pilonidal disease. It has been published previously as an extended version in German language.

Methods

This is a systemic literature review. The present guideline was reviewed and accepted by an expert panel in a consensus conference.

Results

Some of the present guideline conclusions were based on low- to moderate-quality trials. Therefore, an agreement was necessary in those cases to provide recommendations. However, recommendations regarding the most frequently used surgical procedures were based on numerous prospective randomized trials.

Conclusions

An asymptomatic pilonidal disease does not require treatment. A pilonidal abscess should be incised. After regression of the acute inflammation, a definitive treatment method should be applied. An excision is the standard treatment method for the chronic pilonidal disease. Open wound healing is associated with a low postoperative morbidity rate; however, it is complicated by a long healing time. The minimally invasive procedures (e.g., pit picking surgery) represent a potential treatment option for a limited chronic pilonidal disease. However, the recurrence rate is higher compared to open healing. Excision followed by a midline wound closure is associated with a considerable recurrence rate and increased incidence of wound complications and should therefore be abandoned. Off-midline procedures can be adopted as a primary treatment option in chronic pilonidal disease. At present, there is no evidence of any outcome differences between various off-midline procedures. The Limberg flap and the Karydakis flap are most thoroughly analyzed off-midline procedures.

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Notes

  1. The statetment “Open healing is golden standard in Germany” was based purely on consensus and not on scientific data. Ninety-three percent of participants of consensus meeting voted to include this sentence despite a lack of data supporting this declaration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Städtisches Klinikum München Bogenhausen, Englschalkinger Str. 77, 81925, Munich, Germany

    I. Iesalnieks

  2. End- und Dickdarm-Zentrum Essen, Essen, Germany

    A. Ommer

  3. Department of Surgery, Asklepios-Klinik Altona, Hamburg, Germany

    S. Petersen

  4. Department of Surgery, St. Marienhospital Vechta, Vechta, Germany

    D. Doll

  5. End- und Dickdarmzentrum Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany

    A. Herold

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  1. I. Iesalnieks
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  2. A. Ommer
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  3. S. Petersen
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  4. D. Doll
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  5. A. Herold
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Correspondence to I. Iesalnieks.

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Iesalnieks, I., Ommer, A., Petersen, S. et al. German national guideline on the management of pilonidal disease. Langenbecks Arch Surg 401, 599–609 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-016-1463-7

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