OBJECTIVE:
Pilonidal disease is a disease of young people. The objectives of this study were to evaluate body image and cosmetic results in patients with pilonidal disease who underwent surgery, and to determine how patients experienced the pre- and postoperative periods after different procedures.
METHODS:
Twenty nine patients were enrolled in this study: 10 consecutive patients who had undergone excision and primary midline closure and 19 patients who had rhomboid excision and Limberg flap procedures. To evaluate body image and cosmesis, the Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ) was used. Body image and cosmesis were assessed preoperatively, postoperative early and 2 months after surgery.
RESULTS:
Postoperative body image and cosmesis scores were significantly higher than the preoperative scores in both treatment groups (p<0.01). However, there were no significant differences in preoperative and postoperative body image and cosmesis scores between the two groups.
CONCLUSION:
Surgical repair of chronic pilonidal disease can improve the body image. This study suggests that patients who have suffered pilonidal disease are far more concerned about the reconstruction of their functional problems of their cosmetic ones.
Keywords: Body Image, Cosmesis; Pilonidal disease; Surgery