Effectiveness of Phenol Application in Pediatric Pilonidal Sinus

Purpose: Phenol application is an increasingly popular method in the treatment of pediatric pilonidal sinus because of its ease of use. However, there has been insufficient research on standards for phenol application in children. This study aimed to determine standards for evaluating phenol applications to identify parameters that can be used in treatment planning. Methods: Pediatric patients with pilonidal sinus who underwent surgical excision and/or phenol injection between January 2011 and January 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. Data related to the patients’ age, sex, treatment method (phenol, surgery), number of phenol applications, preoperative complications and antibiotic use, postoperative complications, and treatment duration were analyzed. Results: The study included 57 patients, 34 boys (59.6%) and 23 girls (40.3%), with a mean age of 15.15±1.62 years (range: 11-18). Number of phenol applications and postoperative complications were significantly higher in patients with prolonged preoperative antibiotic use (>2 weeks) and preoperative complications (p<0.05). Length of hospital stay, wound dressing duration, and time to return to daily routine were significantly shorter in the phenol application group (p<0.001). Treatment duration and frequency of postoperative complications did not differ among the treatment groups (p˃0.05). Conclusion: This study suggest that phenol application is not superior to surgical treatment in terms of postoperative complications or treatment duration. The potential negative impact of prolonged preoperative antibiotic use and preoperative complications on the treatment process should be considered when deciding to use phenol for the treatment of pilonidal sinus.