Evaluation of the coexistence of pilonidal sinus disease and hirsutism in female patients: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Background:This study aimed to investigate the coexistence of pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) and hirsutism in female patients. Materials and methods:The demographic and clinical data of 164 female patients who underwent surgery for PSD between January 2007 and May 2014 were evaluated for this retrospective cross-sectional study. Data collected for this study were age, BMI, the modified Ferriman and Gallwey scale (mFGS) for hirsutism, main symptoms, type of surgery, early postoperative complications (wound infection, wound dehiscence), recurrence, and follow-up. The independent variables are hirsutism (mFGS scores) and BMI. Dependent variables are early postoperative complications and recurrence. Results:The median age was 20 years (95% CI for median: 19-21 years). According to the BMI, 45.7, 50.6, and 3.7% of patients were considered normal, overweight, and obese, respectively. According to the mFGS, 11, 9.8, 52.4, and 26.8% of patients were considered to have none, mild, moderate, or severe hirsutism, respectively. Fourteen (8.5%) patients had developed recurrence. Recurrence developed in six patients with primary closure, five patients with Limberg flaps, two patients with Karydakis, and one with marsupialization. There was no statistical difference between recurrent and nonrecurrent patients in terms of BMI (P=0.054) and mFGS (P=0.921). On the other hand, BMI was statistically significantly higher in those who developed early postoperative complications than in those who did not (P<0.001). Conclusion:PSD is no longer a 'men's only disease'. BMI increases the risk of early postoperative complications, but this association was not found between BMI and recurrence. Prospective multicenter studies are needed on the relationship between PSD and hirsutism.