To evaluate the effectiveness of laser therapy as a primary treatment option for pilonidal disease in adolescents.
Key Findings:
Mean age of patients was 13.6 years, with a mean BMI of 25.3 kg/m².
Mean duration of symptoms was 1.8 months, and mean follow-up period was 24.5 months.
Postprocedural complications occurred in 24% of patients, including local infections and wound healing disorders.
Recurrence of pilonidal disease was detected in 18% of patients.
Interpretation:
Laser therapy for pilonidal disease in adolescents shows promise as a minimally invasive option, though notable recurrence and complications highlight the need for further studies.
Limitations:
Small sample size of 17 patients limits generalizability.
Retrospective design may introduce bias in data collection and analysis.
Lack of standardization in follow-up timing may affect results.
Conclusion:
a-PiLaT appears to be a viable treatment for adolescent pilonidal disease, warranting further studies to confirm its efficacy and safety, particularly with larger sample sizes.
