Comparison of crystallized phenol and Karidakis flap treatment in pilonidal sinus disease.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to compare the results of Karidakis flap reconstruction with crystallized phenol in pilonidal sinus treatment.
Methods: 216 patients treated for pilonidal sinus disease with the researched methods between June 2016 and July 2019 were included in the study.
Results: 142 (65.7%) of the patients were treated with the KFR technique and 74 (34.3%) with the crystallized phenol method. Of the patients included in the study, 157 (72.7%) were male, and 59 (27.3%) were female. The mean age was calculated as 24.89 (± 8.4). The mean hospital stay in the KFR group was 1.21 (± 0.4) days. The mean time to return to work was 2.79 (± 1.03) days in the phenol group and 15.35 (± 3.39) days in the KFR group. In 4 (5.4%) patients, the improvement could not be achieved despite multiple sessions of phenol administration, and the procedure was considered unsuccessful. Recurrence occurred in 6 patients (4.22%) in the KFR group. The mean follow-up period was 13.44 (11-16) months in the KFR group and 13.67 (11-16) months in the phenol group. CONCLUSİON: It is thought that phenol administration can be applied in selected single-pit cases with high success, low complications, hospitalization, and early return to work. While the KFR method's lower recurrence rates are advantageous, it was noteworthy that the complication rates were higher.
Key Words: Crystallized phenol, Karydakis flap reconstruction, Pilonidal sinus disease.