WHAT IS A PILONIDAL CYST?
It is a chronic infection of the skin in the sacrococcygeal region along the midline between the two buttocks. It results from the infection of ingrown hairs in this part of the skin. It is more common during puberty and around the age of 40, with a predilection for males. It is more common in obese individuals and those with a higher density of hair.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
A pilonidal cyst may present with a small hole in the sacrococcygeal area, secreting purulent material or blood, or as a large abscess with very warm, red, and painful overlying skin. In the latter case, there may be fever, nausea, and general discomfort. Typically, the condition begins with an abscess in the sacrococcygeal area, which can either open spontaneously or through surgical incision. In either case, a significant amount of pus is discharged. Fever rapidly subsides, as does the pain. Once the abscess is resolved, most patients develop a "pilonidal sinus," a cavity beneath the skin surface that can drain to the outside through one or more openings on the skin in the sacrococcygeal region. Some patients experience recurrent infections of the pilonidal sinus with pain, fever, and the discharge of purulent material. Surgical intervention is virtually always necessary to resolve the problem. HOW IS
A SACROCOCCYGEAL CYST TREATED?
The abscess is treated through surgical incision, allowing the pus to drain through the incision, with fever rapidly decreasing and pain nearly disappearing. This is a procedure usually performed in an outpatient setting or the emergency room under local anesthesia. Chronic sacrococcygeal cysts are treated through surgical excision. The techniques used can be "open" or "closed" in the sense that after removing the pilonidal sinus, the wound can be left open or closed with sutures.
The excision may involve extensive stretches of skin, so healing can take a long time, especially if the wound is left open. Daily dressings are required for the patient. To facilitate the healing of very extensive wounds, skin flaps (pieces of skin placed to cover large wounds) can be created. If the wound is closed with thick sutures, the surgical site must be kept clean and dry. Every three or four days, it is important for the surgeon to aspirate the secretions that form beneath the wound using a syringe. Sutures can be removed after about 15 days. If a closed wound does not heal, the sutures should be removed, and the wound must be left open and treated daily. Healing can occur after two or three months.
Read more on EPSIT HERE
It is a chronic infection of the skin in the sacrococcygeal region along the midline between the two buttocks. It results from the infection of ingrown hairs in this part of the skin. It is more common during puberty and around the age of 40, with a predilection for males. It is more common in obese individuals and those with a higher density of hair.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
A pilonidal cyst may present with a small hole in the sacrococcygeal area, secreting purulent material or blood, or as a large abscess with very warm, red, and painful overlying skin. In the latter case, there may be fever, nausea, and general discomfort. Typically, the condition begins with an abscess in the sacrococcygeal area, which can either open spontaneously or through surgical incision. In either case, a significant amount of pus is discharged. Fever rapidly subsides, as does the pain. Once the abscess is resolved, most patients develop a "pilonidal sinus," a cavity beneath the skin surface that can drain to the outside through one or more openings on the skin in the sacrococcygeal region. Some patients experience recurrent infections of the pilonidal sinus with pain, fever, and the discharge of purulent material. Surgical intervention is virtually always necessary to resolve the problem. HOW IS
A SACROCOCCYGEAL CYST TREATED?
The abscess is treated through surgical incision, allowing the pus to drain through the incision, with fever rapidly decreasing and pain nearly disappearing. This is a procedure usually performed in an outpatient setting or the emergency room under local anesthesia. Chronic sacrococcygeal cysts are treated through surgical excision. The techniques used can be "open" or "closed" in the sense that after removing the pilonidal sinus, the wound can be left open or closed with sutures.
The excision may involve extensive stretches of skin, so healing can take a long time, especially if the wound is left open. Daily dressings are required for the patient. To facilitate the healing of very extensive wounds, skin flaps (pieces of skin placed to cover large wounds) can be created. If the wound is closed with thick sutures, the surgical site must be kept clean and dry. Every three or four days, it is important for the surgeon to aspirate the secretions that form beneath the wound using a syringe. Sutures can be removed after about 15 days. If a closed wound does not heal, the sutures should be removed, and the wound must be left open and treated daily. Healing can occur after two or three months.
Read more on EPSIT HERE