Treatment of pilonidal disease by phenol application.

The literature indicates various approaches regarding the properties of phenol, the target patient group, and the complication and recurrence rates. Although phenol is most frequently used to treat the fistulated form of the disease, it can also be applied for other types. The overall success and complication rates of the application is reported as 62-95% and 0%-2%, respectively. Phenol treatment in pilonidal disease can be used more frequently as an alternative method with acceptable success, complication, and recurrence rates.