Repatriation Medical Authority - Declaration - Pilonidal Sinus

DECLARATION – PILONIDAL SINUS

Subsection 196B(9) of the

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986

The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) makes this declaration under subsection 196B(9) of the Act following its focussed review of the contents of Statements of Principles in force under the Act concerning pilonidal sinus (Nos. 27 and 28 of 2019).  The investigation related to prolonged sitting. The Notice of Investigation was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette of 31 August 2021.

Following the investigation, the Authority declares that it does not propose to amend the Statement of Principles concerning pilonidal sinus (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 28 of 2019) to include factors concerning prolonged sitting.  The sound medical-scientific evidence available to the Authority, including the new sound medical-scientific evidence, does not establish on the balance of probabilities that prolonged sitting is a factor for the clinical onset and clinical worsening of pilonidal sinus. 

Consequently, the sound medical-scientific evidence is not sufficient to justify an amendment to the Statement of Principles concerning pilonidal sinus (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 28 of 2019) to include factors relating to prolonged sitting.

However, the sound medical-scientific evidence available to the Authority, including the new sound medical-scientific evidence, establishes that there is a reasonable hypothesis that sitting on a hard or vibrating surface is a factor for the clinical onset and clinical worsening of pilonidal sinus of the sacrococcygeal region.  Therefore, the Authority has decided to amend the Statement of Principles concerning pilonidal sinus (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 27 of 2019), to include factors for sitting on a hard or vibrating surface.