RT Book, Section A1 Chooljian, Carolyn A2 Reichman, Eric F. SR Print(0) ID 1159803811 T1 Pilonidal Abscess or Cyst Incision and Drainage T2 Reichman's Emergency Medicine Procedures, 3e YR 2018 FD 2018 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259861925 LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1159803811 RD 2024/03/28 AB Controversy surrounds pilonidal disease, from who first described it, to the etiology, and how to manage it surgically. Some believe that pilonidal disease was first described in 1880 by Hodges.1 However, others say it was first described in 1833 by Mayo.2 Hodges used the term “pilonidal sinus” to describe a chronic infection that contained hair and was usually found between the buttocks. The word “pilonidal” comes from “pilus” or hair and “nidus” or nest. It literally means “nest of hair.” The condition did not receive much attention until it became a significant problem in the armed services around the time of World War II. In 1940, in the United States Navy, the number of sick days caused by pilonidal disease and its complications exceeded those of either syphilis or hernias.3 This condition was coined as “jeep disease” by Buie in 1944 because of the high occurrence rate in those who drove or were frequent passengers in military vehicles.4 There is an increased prevalence in drivers and others with occupations requiring long periods of sitting.5-7