ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Acta Vulnologica 2016 March;14(1):24-39

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Retrospective study on the use of negative pressure wound therapy in the treatment of pilonidal cysts (sinus pilonidalis) operated on using an open technique or complicated by dehiscence of the surgery site through sepsis

Maurizio CARNALI ¹, Remo RONCHI ², Luigi FINOCCHI ², Silvia SPURI CAPESCIOTTI ², Battistino PAGGI ³

¹ Centre for Difficult Wounds-Vulnology, Unit of General Surgery, Asur Marche AV 2 Fabriano, Ancona, Italy; ² Unit of General Surgery, Asur Marche AV 2 Fabriano, Ancona, Italy; ³ RN and Clinical Scientific Support Services at Freelance Consultancy & Training, Cameri (NO), Italy

BACKGROUND: Pilonidal disease is a benign disorder which requires surgery to resolve it. It has maximum incidence in youth (school age and early working experience) and favours males. If operated on using an open technique or complicated through dehiscence of the surgical wound by sepsis, the wound is healed by secondary intention. This outcome is distinguished by the following characteristics: long – often very long – healing times; frequent bacterial contamination; significant production of fluids from the wound bed; disabling immediate postoperative period because of frequent need to change dressing; extended absence from work or education. The above issues encouraged the authors to investigate a different method for managing this type of disease.
METHODS: The investigation covered patients who have undergone an open technique (61/298) and managed using negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in the period January 2007 to October 2015. The characteristics mentioned above were investigated in order to verify their effective clinical management.
RESULTS: It resulted that using NPWT healing times reduced; the patients’ quality of life improves in the immediate postoperative period; the period of inactivity is reduced; the appearance of the scar is improved.
CONCLUSIONS: In planning a surgery or in managing the complications the possibility of using new developed techniques together with vulnology theories can improve the prognosis and quality of life of the patient.