Comparison between removal of umbilicus versus saving the umbilicus along with umbilical sinusectomy for infected umbilical sinus

Abstract

Umbilical sinus is a very rare variety of malformation among all the vitellointestinal duct anomalies. There are two causes of umbilical sinus. One arising from the remnants of vitellointestinal duct and another arising from the remnants of allantois (urachal sinus). Its clinical presentation is that of persisting umbilical discharge in younger children and young adults. Surgical intervention is the recommended treatment for most of these anomalies. A study was done on 50 patients who were diagnosed as umbilical sinus. 25 patients were subjected to sinusectomy with umbilicus excision and another 25 patients were subjected to sinusectomy with saving the umbilicus. Wound infections was noted in 8 of the patients whose umbilicus was saved. Later on they had recurrence of discharge from the umbilical sinus which required resurgery along with removal of umbilicus. In the other group whose umbilicus was removed only one had post operative wound infection which healed well without leading to persistence of discharge and required no further surgery. This study we tried to conclude that removing the umbilicus along with the sinusectomy is better choice of procedure than leaving behind the umbilicus.