seton

se·ton (stn)

n.

Material such as thread, wire, or gauze that is passed through subcutaneous tissues or through a cyst in order to form a sinus or fistula.

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seton

1. a thin woven fabric wick, 6 in × 0.25 in, used as a primitive vaccination technique by dipping the seton in a bowl of 'vaccine', e.g. pleural exudate from a case of contagious bovine pneumonia.

2. a thread of gauze or other suture material threaded through tissue and used to keep a wound open.