Minimally Invasive Fibrin Sealant Application in Pilonidal Sinus: A Comparative Study

The aim of this study was to compare the filling of the pilonidal sinus tract with fibrin sealant (FS) against tract excision and primary closure (PC) as the primary procedure. Details of all patients who underwent treatment for a symptomatic first episode of pilonidal sinus disease between January 2011 and December 2015 were prospectively recorded in a custom database. Patients underwent PC (n=17) or FS (n=17) according to patient preference. Prior surgical treatment and ongoing infection precluded entry. Patients were treated with antibiotics if presenting with infection. Outcomes measured were recurrence, further procedures, outpatient attendances and length of follow-up to resolution. 34 consecutive patients [FS vs. PC: male n=15 vs. 12 p=0.398; mean age 29 (SEM 12) vs. 30 (SEM 15) p=0.849] were included. Treated preoperative infections were similar FS (n=5) vs. PC (n=12) (p=0.038, chi-squared test). FS cohort had more sinuses FS median (range) 2 (1–4) vs. PC 1 (1–3) (p=0.046). Postoperative outcomes: recurrence rate FS (n=5) vs. PC (n=4) (p=0.629); infection rate FS (n=1) vs. PC (n=8) (p=0.045); total number of operations required FS 1 (1–2) vs. PC 1 (1–4) (p=0.19); total number of outpatient attendance FS 2 (1–7) vs. PC 3 (1–16) (p=0.629); follow-up FS 129 days ± 33 vs. PC 136 ± 51 (p=0.914). Fibrin sealant is not inferior to excision followed by primary closure.