Reply to Letter to the Editor

We appreciate the comments regarding our recent systematic review on the management of pilonidal disease. Dr. Yuksel identifies a concern about the safety of phenol in the pediatric population. In our review, phenol was noted to be a promising and overall safe option in the treatment of pilonidal disease. The studies we reviewed included data on complications with the use of phenol in both children and adults. No study recorded muscle weakness, convulsions, or coma. Though we appreciate the risks of toxicity of phenol at high systemic levels, these risks are mitigated when phenol is applied topically in the amounts and percentages commonly utilized.