The unnatural growth of skin primarily due to ingrown hair at the tailbone or in the areas surrounding the tailbone is what we call pilonidal cysts. The cyst may develop into a boil or an abscess due to its location and can become chronic. In case an abscess develops, it can drain pus that could be smelly. If the cyst is infected then you will experience severe pain and discomfort. If not treated in time, then the infection may spread, and also, there is the risk of recurrences. Therefore, finding the best possible treatment at the earliest is the key to avoiding further infections. There are various treatments available, however, the most effective is the surgery to remove pilonidal cysts.
What are the symptoms of Pilonidal disease?
The symptoms of the pilonidal disease may include:
- Discomfort
- Fever
- Dirty-smelling drainage
- Severe pain around the tailbone
- Tenderness in the lower back
- Swelling in the infected area
Risk factors
Pilonidal cysts are quite common among men, especially among those who are in between their early teens and late thirties. This does not mean that women do not suffer from the same. The chances of suffering from pilonidal cysts are higher in those who,
- Have thick and wiry, heavy hair on their lower back
- Indulge in sitting for long hours
- Wears tight clothes that rub the skin causing friction
- Are obese
Surgery to remove pilonidal cysts
The surgical option will be recommended only if other methods of treatment fail to work or if the condition is severe. Or even after the treatment, if the condition recurs repeatedly then surgery is the only option. There are basically two types of surgical procedures namely:
- Incision and drainage procedure
- Excision surgical procedure
Incision and drainage procedure
In this procedure, the surgeon will drain the pus from the infected cyst using both incision and drainage. A small incision will be made on the cyst to let the pus and other debris drains. In case of mild conditions, this procedure might clear the abscess. However, it cannot completely cure the condition. And if it recurs then an invasive surgical procedure is the only option to remove it.
Excision surgical procedure
The main purpose of this procedure is to completely get rid of the infections and to prevent recurrences. This procedure involves incision and drainage and removing the area surrounding the cyst to prevent further infection. The incision and drainage procedure is the same as mentioned above. After the drainage, the surgeon will remove the area surrounding the cyst and then apply antibacterial treatment to clean the wound. This will prevent the surgical site from further infection.
After the procedure, the surgeon will decide whether to leave the wound open or closed. in most cases, surgeons leave the wound open as it allows the area to heal from within. It may also reduce the chances of the cyst recurring. However, the recovery time may be longer and you will need to change the sterile gauze regularly. Also, you need to keep the surgical site clean and dry.
