Chapter 2818: with translation of chapter title

"Sacrococcygeal intergluteal cleft?" Lin JiaoJiao asked in surprise.

"Mm." Zheng Ren said softly: "Miss, if it hurts, just speak."

Lin JiaoJiao's daughter felt a bit embarrassed, but still replied softly.

Zheng Ren probed the sacrococcygeal intergluteal cleft with tweezers; the opening was about 5 mm, and even with force the tweezers couldn't go all the way in.

"Boss, should I get the ophthalmology equipment for you?"

"Mm, find something finer." Zheng Ren said, "Something like a small hook tweezers would do."

Soon, Su Yun found a handy tool and ran back. Zheng Ren examined it and found the sacrococcygeal intergluteal cleft was about 4 cm deep. After widening it for a look, Zheng Ren confirmed the diagnosis of Big Pig Trotter.

"Sister Lin, it's definitely a pilonidal sinus." Zheng Ren said, "No abscess found; we can opt for surgical excision."

"Surgery? I won't do it!" Lin JiaoJiao's daughter exclaimed, as if shocked.

"Hehe, it's a minor surgery, don't worry." Zheng Ren turned his head, put the tweezers back in the original instrument tray, took off his gloves, and said to Lin JiaoJiao: "The surgery basically has no risk; just need to lie prone for a few days post-op, might be a bit uncomfortable."

"Zheng Lao Ban, pilonidal sinus... is that what you call it? What is it?" Lin JiaoJiao asked.

"There are two theories, but no detailed research results." Zheng Ren said, "One says it's a congenital disease due to persistence of the neural canal or developmental abnormality of the sacrococcygeal cleft causing skin inclusion. However, the precursor lesions of pilonidal disease are rarely found in the midline posterior anal dimple of infants, so I think the likelihood is low."

"The other is due to acquired factors, such as trauma, surgery, foreign body irritation, and chronic infection causing a granulomatous disease. It has been confirmed that hair entering from outside is the main cause."

The intergluteal cleft has a negative suction effect, causing shed hair to penetrate subcutaneously. Excessive and long hair inside the cleft, with the hair tips having a filtering and softening effect on the skin, allows hair to enter the skin, forming a sinus tract.

"Uh..." Lin JiaoJiao hesitated.

"Boss's explanation is too complicated; this disease is called Jeep disease in the United States." Su Yun laughed, "It's because you ride in Jeeps too much, bouncing your buttocks into two cheeks. With this explanation, you'll understand what Boss said."

"Mm, Su Yun is right." Zheng Ren smiled, "Long-distance truck drivers are prone to this condition; men are more commonly affected, while girls are rare. It might be related to the trauma you mentioned last time, but don't worry."

"Jeep disease..." Lin JiaoJiao felt this name was much easier to remember than pilonidal sinus.

"Mm, most of the case records come from the United States Army." Zheng Ren said, "Current treatment also relies more on surgical data from the United States Army."

"Zheng Lao Ban, if we want to do surgery, how should we proceed?" Lin JiaoJiao asked.

Zheng Ren then gave her a detailed explanation of the surgical procedure; seeing that it wasn't a big deal, Lin JiaoJiao finally felt relieved.

If surgery is performed, it's just a skin injury, possibly slightly larger than excising a lipoma, but not much bigger. It just looks visually striking, or rather eyesore, quite intimidating.

After Lin JiaoJiao's daughter put on her clothes, Zheng Ren opened the door and said, "By the way, if someone suggests sclerotherapy, I..."

"Zheng Lao Ban, look at what you're saying." Lin JiaoJiao laughed, "If we want to do it, we'll definitely come to bother you. There's no reason to have such a capable hand like yours and still look for someone else to do the surgery."

Zheng Ren was stunned; that remark had become a habit formed in Hai Cheng. Only a year has passed—could it be that this saying is no longer needed now?

In the past in Hai Cheng, many patients would finish their visit at City First Hospital and then go to Sheng Cheng for further consultation. Now it's a case of changed circumstances and people; even I haven't fully adapted.

Zheng Ren smiled.

"Sister Lin, don't mind the boss; he's not averse to trouble." Su Yun said with a smile, "He still sees himself as the Inpatient Chief of Hai Cheng."

"Hai Cheng can't contain Zheng Lao Ban." Lin JiaoJiao laughed, feeling a bit wistful. Recalling Director Kong's earlier advice, she felt the old director was right, with a sharp eye.

"Then let's do it that way; I suggest doing it during the winter break before Spring Festival." Zheng Ren said, "Post-op rest won't interfere with school. Recovery is also quick, so don't worry."

"Okay, okay." Lin JiaoJiao repeatedly said, "Thanks for the trouble, Zheng Lao Ban."

"It's fine, Sister Lin. We're all our own people; you're being too polite." Zheng Ren said with a smile.

After seeing Lin JiaoJiao and her daughter off, Zhou Litao came over and asked, "Zheng Lao Ban, what disease did that little girl have? Why did you switch to the ophthalmology small hook tweezers?"

"Pilonidal sinus." Zheng Ren said.

"Wow, that's quite rare." Zhou Litao said, "I've seen two cases, both foreigners. This disease mainly affects Caucasians, who have denser hair."

"Hey, Manager Zhou, you've seen quite a few." Su Yun laughed.

"Oh, come on." Zhou Litao said, "It's not that I've just been thinking about writing a research paper; Jeep disease would be a great case, and I still have two cases on hand."

"Manager Zhou, you're really diligent." Su Yun laughed, "Keep working hard; I'm optimistic about you!"

The faint freckles on Zhou Litao's face twitched slightly, then faded.

Zhou Litao sighed.

Zheng Ren patted Zhou Litao's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, things will get better."

Zhou Litao knew Zheng Lao Ban was comforting him; he forced a smile and asked, "Zheng Lao Ban, have you been busy lately?"

"Busy." Zheng Ren said, "I still have to fly to Germany these days, so I probably won't be able to come chat with you recently."

"Going to give a lecture?" Zhou Litao's eyes lit up.

Zheng Lao Ban has been growing step by step right before my eyes!

I first saw a paper with Zheng Lao Ban's diagnosis, then got to know him; later his emergency visits increased. Time flies—now Zheng Lao Ban is going to Germany to give a lecture, while I'm still just an Inpatient Chief.

People really can't be compared.

"Manager Zhou, don't be gloomy." Seeing Zhou Litao truly down, Su Yun smiled and said, "Let's go, I'm off to smoke a cigarette."

Zhou Litao didn't stand on ceremony either; he was wearing relatively few clothes, but instead of going back to the Zhibanshi, he went outside. Walking through the emergency passage, after stepping out he took a deep breath and felt a bit refreshed.

"Manager Zhou, we can't compare ourselves to the boss." Su Yun laughed, shaking out a cigarette, and said, "Was I awesome before? How am I now? If you're going to talk about a person, you definitely should compare them to their past self."

Su Yun said those insincere words, yet they sounded plausible. Zhou Litao smiled, also realizing his mood just now was a bit off.

Taking the cigarette, he snatched the lighter from Su Yun's hand and lit the cigarettes for Zheng Lao Ban and Su Yun first.