Treatment of young patients with pilonidal sinus disease with the original (none modified) Limberg flap that standardized for the first time

BACKGROUND: Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is commonly seen in young adults but may also affect adolescents. Our goal was to present results from operated patients, with a focus on the original Limberg flap that we have standardised for the first time. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of 60 teenaged patients who underwent surgery in a single paediatric surgery centre over approximately 15 years. RESULTS: Of the 60 patients, 33 (55%) were male and the mean age was 14.20 ± 1.31 (9-17) years. After pilonidal sinus excision, primary repair and Limberg flap were performed in patients, 45 (75%) and 15 (25%) respectively. There were no complications in the patients who underwent the Limberg flap technique, while 49% of the patients who underwent primary repair exhibited complications. The mean follow-up was 6.7 ± 4.8 years. CONCLUSION: We standardised the Limberg flap for the first time in children with measurements and considered that it meets ideal expectations: not difficult to perform, low complication and recurrence rates, acceptable time to return to normal activities and satisfactory cosmetic results. We did not identify fewer complications in patients treated with the standard original Limberg flap with epilation, a finding that is comparable with all of the treatment methods reported in the literature related with children.