Pilonidal Disease, also called coccygeal or sacro-coccygeal cyst, is a disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, caused by the inclusion of hair inside the dermis, due to friction and rubbing mechanisms.
Typical of the hypertrichotic subject (rich in hair), the Pilonidal Disease is characterized by inflammation of the hair follicles, also called folliculitis, of the sacro-coccygeal area. Starting from these folliculitis and peri-folliculitis, an infection of the subcutaneous tissue is generated, with the formation of cysts, which generally measure a few centimeters, but which can "devastate" the entire pre-sacral and coccygeal region. These pseudo-cystic formations can remain silent for years, or as a result of trauma, poor local hygiene or simple direct contamination, they can become infected, giving rise to abscesses, with local pain, swelling in the buttocks and fever. The abscess can open spontaneously or the intervention of the surgeon is required who "draining" the infection outside solves the acute problem.
This event often results in a chronicization of the disease with the formation of subcutaneous passages, often containing hairs that give rise to frequent exacerbations of the disease.
Typical of the young age (usually young people from 15 to 40 years of age), pilonidal disease can be an important problem, also aesthetic, for patients by forcing them to repeated dressings, painful local interventions, removal from sports and school activities.
In recent years, techniques aimed at reducing traumatization and saving in terms of tissue removal have therefore become widespread.
EPSiT (Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment) is a minimally invasive technique that uses an endoscopic instrument capable of entering the cyst and subcutaneous passages, and under direct vision, destroys all the diseased inflammatory tissue avoiding the removal of the sacro-coccygeal region.
