As we already know, the pilonidal sinus, also called pilonidal cyst or sacrococcygeal fistula, is a condition that appears between the buttocks (intergluteal fold), as a result of an infection in the skin and hair follicles (hair). It is a disorder that usually affects young people between 15 and up to 40 years old, mainly those with light skin and hirsute skin (with abundant body hair).
It is rare for pilonidal disease to occur in black people, but it is usually a painful, annoying pathology that can be very resistant to pharmacological treatment (antibiotics), which is why it is very common in more than 50% of patients. patients who have suffered from it.
The term pilonidal means nest of hairs, from which the name of the pathology is derived. The cysts themselves form in the upper part of the fold that divides the buttocks, that is, about five centimeters above the anus, in the region of the tailbone.
However, it can also occur in other areas or regions of the body, such as the armpit, scalp and navel, among others. Even though many tend to remain asymptomatic, the most common symptoms of pilonidal disease include:
- Acute pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Discharge of pus and blood.
What to do if you have a pilonidal cyst?
In general, for the treatment of pilonidal sinus, it is necessary to go to a specialist in colorectal diseases, who processes the wound and also prescribes the intake of the indicated antibiotics. However, in many cases the infection recurs and it is necessary to resort to pilonidal surgery.
This surgical intervention of the pilonidal sinus is applied when the cyst is abscessed, which consists of draining the wound, removing the pus and ingrown hair; and then perform definitive surgery.
In these cases, there are various approaches for the treatment of pilonidal sinus, which begins with surgery with an open wound, which is covered with gauze and requires daily cures for a period of time (20-30 days). Another option is surgery with wound closure, which must be monitored until complete healing (because it carries a greater risk of infection).
On the other hand, laser treatment of the pilonidal cyst is the least aggressive, which consists of burning the path with a laser and its less invasive nature. This procedure entails less injury and a faster recovery, as well as a better postoperative period for the patient and a faster return to daily life.
Is it an effective and safe procedure?
According to scientific studies, the treatment of pilonidal cyst with 1470 nm laser diode, they warn that laser therapy of the pilonidal sinus has proven to be a safe and effective procedure to treat patients with pilonidal disease. In fact, according to their findings, clinical results showed low morbidity and recurrence rates comparable to published literature for other modern techniques.
Research on the application of laser technology in the treatment of pilonidal disease showed more than 90% success rates in curing the cases treated, which guarantees the safety, effectiveness and optimal clinical results in the procedure. with laser in pilonidal cysts.
This procedure is applied under local anesthesia, after a small 0.5-1 cm incision in the skin and careful cleaning of the sinus tract with a curette. Then, with a radial fiber connected to a diode laser array at a wavelength of 1470 nm, it was introduced into the tracts, programming continuous deliveries of laser energy in the area.
