Open AccessPuncture, drainage and irrigation: Is that enough for treating an abscess?
Author(s) -
J Gajiwala Kalpesh
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
indian journal of plastic surgery/indian journal of plastic surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.299
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1998-376X
pISSN - 0970-0358
DOI - 10.1055/s-0039-1700447
Subject(s) - medicine , incision and drainage , drainage , surgery , irrigation , gold standard (test) , abscess , therapeutic irrigation , radiology , ecology , biology
An abscess is a common occurrence. The gold standard for treatment is incision and drainage. Here a simple technique of a small puncture followed by drainage and irrigation done under local anesthesia is described. Sixty-four patients were treated between 1990 and 2006. Barring two, which were taken off the study, all healed completely without recurrence. The advantages of this procedure are that it is simple, can be done as an office procedure enabling a quick return to work and results in faster, scar free healing. It also allows better pain management.