The treatment depends on the disease pattern. An acute abscess is managed with an incision and drained to release the pus, and reduce the inflammation and pain. This procedure usually can be performed in the office with local anesthesia. A chronic sinus usually will need to be excised or surgically opened. Complex or recurrent disease must be treated surgically.
Larger operations require longer healing times.
If the wound is left open, it will require dressing or packing to keep it clean. Although it may take several weeks to heal, the success rate with open wounds is higher. Your surgeon will discuss these options with you and help you select the appropriate operation. The dashed line shows how it may be opened or unroofed. Dashed line in drawing C shows excision of all inflamed tissue.