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The diagnosis of septal abscess is rarely difficult. The fact that the swelling is not infrequently accompanied by acute sinusitis because of mechanical obstruction of the ostium of a sinus may be overlooked. Incision and drainage of the abscess are commonly done. The problem then arises as to the technic of keeping the wound open and draining well.
A simple method which has been used by us is the employment of a T tube, so well known in surgery of the bile ducts. The fundamental purpose is to have the vertical arm of the tube properly fenestrated and placed in the abscess at the optimum depth, extending beyond the incision to the nasa vestibule. The horizontal arm of the tube then serves a double purpose. Half is fixed to the dorsum of the nose with adhensive tape just lateral to the midline. The upward direction of the fixed portion automatically