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Techniques in Coloproctology
Published in: Techniques in Coloproctology 1/2018

01-01-2018 | Review

The effect of hair removal after surgery for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease: a systematic review of the literature

Authors: A. A. Pronk, L. Eppink, N. Smakman, E. J. B. Furnee

Published in: Techniques in Coloproctology | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

It has been suggested that removal of body hair in the sacrococcygeal area prevents recurrence after surgery for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease (SPSD). The aim of this study was to review the literature regarding the effect of hair depilation on the recurrence rate in patients surgically treated for SPSD.

Methods

A systematic search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library by using synonyms for SPSD. Title, abstract, and full text were screened by two independent reviewers. Data were systematically collected from all included studies by using a standardized data extraction form.

Results

The search and selection yielded 14 studies, involving 963 patients. The study design of the included studies was: retrospective cohort (n = 7), prospective cohort (n = 3), randomized controlled trial (n = 2), and case–control (n = 2).The mean length of follow-up was 37.0 (standard error of the mean: 35.0) months. The recurrence rate was 9.3% (34 out of 366 patients) in patients who had laser hair removal, 23.4% (36 out of 154 patients) in those who had razor shaving/cream depilation, and 19.7% (85 out of 431 patients) in those who had no hair removal after surgery for SPSD.

Conclusions

This systematic review showed a lower recurrence rate after laser hair removal compared to no hair removal and razor/cream depilation. Due to the small sample size and limited methodological quality of the included studies, a high-quality randomized controlled trial is required.
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Metadata
Title
The effect of hair removal after surgery for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease: a systematic review of the literature
Authors
A. A. Pronk
L. Eppink
N. Smakman
E. J. B. Furnee
Publication date
01-01-2018
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Techniques in Coloproctology / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 1123-6337
Electronic ISSN: 1128-045X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-017-1722-9

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