Limberg flap in management of pilonidal sinus disease: systematic review and a local experience

Abstract

Objectives: To review published evidence of Limberg flap (LF) use in pilonidal sinus disease (PSD). We also included our local experience of LF.

Methods: Medline and Embase database were searched for the words ‘pilonidal, sinus, Limberg, flap’. Non-English articles and those not-related to our scope of search were omitted. We included a retrospective study of patients underwent LF in our district hospital. Data including length of hospital stay, post-operative complications and recurrence were collected.

Results: Literature review revealed 68 studies (22 case series, 35 comparative studies, nine RCTs and two meta-analyses). Recurrence rate was 0–7.4% in case series. Recurrence rate in comparative studies was 0–8.3%, compared to 4–37.7% for primary closure and 0–11% for Karydakis flap. RCTs showed that LF or its modification is superior to primary closure, with comparable results to Karydakis flap. About 26 patients included in the cohort study (16 male, average age 27 years). Six patients presented with recurrent disease. Post-operative length of hospital stay was four to seven days. Post-operative complication rate was 11.5% – [two partial wound dehiscence, one wound infection]. Recurrence rate was 7.7%. Average follow-up was 18 months.

Conclusions: Limberg flap presents a safe and effective method that can be offered for patients with primary or recurrent PSD.

Keywords:

• Pilonidal
• sinus
• Limberg
• flap
• recurrence
• wound

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Jonathan Baker our clinical librarian for his continuous help and support in the database search. We would also like to show our gratitude to Mr. Deya Marzouk [Consultant and Clinical Lead for General and Colorectal surgery], for his sincere advice and valuable comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.