ArticleAnnals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England2023
Pilonidal sinus laser-assisted closure (PiLAC) - a low-morbidity alternative to excision with excellent long-term outcomes.
Article in Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of sinus laser associated closure (SiLaC) versus endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSiT) in the management of pilonidal sinus disease.Langenbeck's archives of surgery · 2026Pooled it
- Laser-assisted endoscopic treatment of pilonidal sinus disease in children: a first pediatric series.Pediatric surgery international · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionRecurrence after surgery for pilonidal sinus disease is a recognised problem and patients often re-present months after discharge. We routinely treat primary and recurrent pilonidal sinus disease with Pilonidal sinus Laser-Assisted Closure (PiLAC). Long-term outcomes following PiLAC surgery was examined following clinical and telephone review.
methodsAll patients undergoing PiLAC as a day-case between April 2016 and July 2019 were included. Patients were followed up in a nurse-led clinic until complete healing or recurrence. A prospective database and retrospective audit of notes combined with longer-term follow-up by telephone were used.
resultsA total of 35 patients underwent PiLAC, median age 28 (18-53 years), 28 males:7 females. A total of 28 patients had long-term (>60 days) follow-up, mean 407 days (range 67-887 days); 25/28 patients (89.3%) had healed with no recurrence on long-term follow-up. Of these 28 patients, 11 were first presentation of pilonidal disease and underwent PiLAC as their first treatment, with a 91% heal rate long term. A total of 15 patients had seton drainage prior to PiLAC, with a 93% heal rate versus no seton (83%). Fisher's exact test showed no significant difference between sex, new/recurrent pilonidal disease and seton placement (
conclusionsHealing after PiLAC for the treatment of primary and recurrent pilonidal sinus disease is preserved with excellent long-term outcomes. We recommend it as an alternative to surgical excision.
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