A medical device consisting of a thread or wire passed through tissue to maintain drainage or prevent healing of a wound. Used in surgical procedures.
From Latin seta 'bristle, hair', referring to the thread-like nature of the device. The medical use dates to ancient times when actual horsehair or silk threads were used.
Ancient Egyptian medical papyri describe seton procedures over 3,500 years ago, making it one of the oldest surgical techniques still in use today. Modern setons use synthetic materials but the principle remains unchanged.
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