What is a pilonidal cyst?
Pilonidal cysts, also known as Jeep Driver’s disease, are cysts which contain skin and hair debris and are located at the bottom of the tailbone or the cleft of the buttocks. They can become infected and will become pilonidal abscesses. Pilonidal abscesses appear to resemble a large blemish at the bottom of the tailbone, just above the separation of the buttocks. These are more common in men than in women and usually occur in younger people but can be found in people in their 40s.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms include:
- Discomfort at the bottom of the spine
- Inflammation
- Redness
- Draining pus
- Fever
When should I seek medical care?
A pilonidal cyst is an abscess or boil and will need to be drained to improve. If any of the above symptoms occur, consult your physician.
What exams and tests are used to diagnose a pilonidal cyst?
The doctor can diagnose the condition by taking the person’s medical and family history and performing a physical exam. During the exam, the doctor looks for:
- Tenderness, redness, and inflammation between the cheeks of the buttocks just above the anus
- Fever
- Increased white blood cell count
- Inflammation of the nearby skin
What is the medical treatment?
A number of procedures can be used including:
- Incision and drainage- The hair follicles and contents of the cyst are removed, and the opening is packed with gauze. It is a simple procedure performed under local anesthesia. However, there can be frequent changing of gauze packing needed.
- Marsupialization- This process involves an incision and draining, the removal of pus and hair, and the creation of a pouch by sewing the edges of the fibrous tract to the wound edges. It is an outpatient surgery conducted under local anesthesia. This procedure can minimize the size and depth of the wound without needing to pack the wound with gauze. However, it does require roughly six weeks to heal.
- Incision and drainage with immediate closing of the wound- The wound will be completely closed immediately following surgery. It is difficult to remove the entire cyst this way, and it may come back.
