Diagnosis and management of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease in primary care

What you need to know Refer urgently patients with an acute abscess for incision and drainageRefer patients with chronic symptomatic disease for specialist input, which could include non-surgical, minimally invasive, or surgical managementAssess pain in symptomatic disease and offer analgesia as requiredA 25 year old man who works as a driver of heavy goods vehicles complains of pain and swelling in the natal cleft over the past few months. On examination, inflammation is evidentin the sacrococcygeal region, with visible pits and discharging sinuses.Sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease is an inflammatory condition of the skin and subcutaneous tissues of the natal cleft, often presenting as a spectrum ranging from asymptomatic pits to painful large abscesses. The term “pilonidal” is derived from the Latin “nest of hairs,” referencing the accepted pathophysiology of loose hair burrowing into normal skin, and causing a foreign body reaction. Sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease primarily affects young adults of working age….
Read Original Article: Diagnosis and management of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease in primary care »