Patients in Mau are turning up at hospitals with a recurring lump and pus discharge near the tailbone, the lowest part of the spine between the buttocks. Doctors are identifying the condition as pilonidal sinus, a disease in which a narrow tunnel forms beneath the skin, and warn that surgery becomes the only real fix once it is left untreated for too long.
Dr Mohammad Arshad, a surgeon at Prerna Multi Speciality Hospital, explains that pilonidal sinus develops when a sinus tract forms under the skin. A wound forms at that spot, and pus keeps oozing out from it intermittently, causing both physical discomfort and mental distress for the patient.
Who is more likely to develop it
According to Dr Arshad, the condition shows up more often in people who have thick hair on the lower back or waist and who spend long hours sitting in one position, typically at a desk job. In such people, hair strands start pushing into the skin, and an infection slowly builds up at that site, eventually turning into a sinus. Prolonged sitting drives sharp hair ends deep into the skin, where they gradually carve out a tunnel-like track. If the condition is not treated the right way, he adds, the chances of it coming back are considerably high.
Treating it lightly can turn into a bigger problem
The doctor's advice is direct: anyone noticing symptoms of pilonidal sinus should see a specialist without delay. Without timely treatment, the infection keeps spreading, pus continues to leak, clothes get soiled, and everyday movements like sitting, standing up and even walking become difficult. If the problem is ignored for a long stretch, the sinus tract can grow larger and the infection can spread into the surrounding tissue. At that stage, patients may need a much bigger surgery, and recovery also takes considerably longer. That is why consulting a doctor as soon as the earliest symptoms appear is considered the wisest course of action.
Rhomboid flap technique brings relief during surgery
Dr Arshad says that using the rhomboid flap technique during surgery significantly cuts down the risk of the condition recurring. It is a specialised surgical method that should only be performed by an experienced surgeon. Following a successful operation using this technique, patients get major relief, and the problem of continuous pus discharge that had troubled them for months is fully resolved.
