Pilonidal Cyst
A pilonidal cyst is an abnormal pocket in the skin that usually contains hair and skin debris. A pilonidal cyst is almost always located near the tailbone at the top of the cleft of the buttocks.
Pilonidal cysts usually occur when hair punctures the skin and then becomes embedded. If a pilonidal cyst becomes infected, the resulting abscess is often extremely painful. The cyst can be drained through a small incision or removed surgically.
Pilonidal cysts most commonly occur in young men, and the problem has a tendency to recur. People who sit for prolonged periods of time, such as truck drivers, are at higher risk of developing a pilonidal cyst.
When it's infected, a pilonidal cyst becomes a swollen mass (abscess). Signs and symptoms of an infected pilonidal cyst include:
Pain
Reddening of the skin
Drainage of pus or blood from an opening in the skin
Foul smell from draining pus
Surgical Treatments
In all surgical methods, the cyst is completely removed with the surrounding tissue. After the surgery, your doctor may choose to;
- Leave the wound open: In this option, the surgical wound is left open and packed with dressing to allow it to heal from the inside out. The recovery period is long and the possibility of recurrence is low.
- Close the wound with stitches. While the healing time is shorter with this option, there's a greater risk of recurrence.
- Limberg flap Method: The gap formed after removing the cyst is closed with the piece taken from the hip. The recovery period is short and the possibility of recurrence is low.
