Cleft closure (the Bascom cleft lift) for 714 patients-treatment of choice for complex and recurrent pilonidal disease (a cohort study).

Cleft closure is an effective operation for pilonidal disease. Overall, 97% of patients healed without further surgery. A 3% failure rate and 5.3% recurrence rate were observed. This technique could be considered as an alternative procedure to complex flaps or midline excision, in extensive, recurrent and unhealed pilonidal disease.