Is the increase in the number of pilonidal sinus surgery normal?

Purpose: We have noticed the increase in pilonidal sinus operations (PSO) and performed this study to determine the extent of this change and if there is a difference between the number of pilonidal sinus surgery and outpatient and inpatient numbers. Material and Method: We scanned PSO, which was performed in three hospitals [medical faculty hospital (MFH), education and research hospital (ERH) and state hospital (SH)] in the same city, in the last 10 years between 1999 and 2008. We have determined the yearly distribution of cases, total number of operations performed, number of general surgery operations (GSO) at the same period and changes in staff of general surgery clinics. We reviewed the number of outpatients, inpatients and the middle group surgical procedures containing PSO as well, performed at the whole city and the country in the last 10 years. Results: The number of PSO was 234 and the number of GSO was 7.728 at MFHs in the first 5 years. These numbers were 259 and 10.384 in the second period, respectively. The increase was 11% for PSO and 72% for GSO. The increase in PSO was lower than GSO. In ERH there were 506 PSOs in the first 5 years and 760 PSOs in the second 5 years. The number of GSO had increased from 11.563 to 11.452 in the second 5 years. There was a 1% decrease in the number of GSOs, whereas the number of PSOs increased by 50% (p<0.001). The number of PSOs performed in SHs increased from 353 to 1.224, by 247%. Also, the number of GSO increased from 10.215 to 15.595, by 53%. The increase in the number of PSOs in two hospitals (ERH and SH) was statistically significant (p<0.001). The number of PSOs was 246 in 2005 and it became 1.341 in 2008, with an increase of 439% at the whole city. Considering Turkey, the number of PSOs performed was 12.415 in 2005 and it increased to 54.633 (340%) in 2008. Conclusion: There is a rapid increase in the number of PSOs performed at the state hospitals in Konya and all around Turkey. Absolute reasons for this increase should be investigated and preventive measures should be taken.