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Hullo world, would anyone know of any articles on the efficacy of face masks. Surgical face masks were designed to protect patient from clinician. However, as we (pods) need the opposite (nail dust), any ideas, thanks

 

Interesting link (& horrific study results!)

I'm actually interested to hear how many Pods wear surgical face masks for:
1 - only when using drill (burr or mandrill)
2 - all general treatments
3 - some general treatments
4 - not often.
5 - when washing instruments

and industrial facemasks when grinding orthoses or using glue?

If you wear a mask for some but not all aspects of treatment, what is your motivating factor to put one on?


Are there any OH&S recommendations regarding face masks & Pods?

 

Buy yourself a HEPA filter for your room, in Aus only about $200 for Sunbeam brand unit and $50ish for a filter every few months, takes out particles down to 0.3 micron.
Helps a lot
Regards Phill

 

I have been a podiatrist for 20 years , and until recently never wore a mask (uncomfortable and steamed up my glasses) then this summer I developed a cough, couldn't decide whether it was the pre-op spray or the podospray electric file. Decided nature was warning me (hey, we've all known about nail dust damage) so have now got used to wearing mask and goggles when using the podospray. I don't use a spray pre-op any more.Hope this helps. Jane .

 

If face masks aren't that effective and the use of drills seems to create the most dust why are people still using drills? We stopped using them years ago due to concerns over our own health. None of our patients seem to have suffered as a result of this (ie no increase in subungual ulceration or any of the potential detrimental effects of chauxic nails. Patient comfort seems to be fine also)

 

When we do use the nail drill (much less ofeten now than before) we use a 3M Respirator, that is really just a specific dust mask.

 

The problem does not stop when you turn off the drill, the finer sub micron particles do not readily settle and will circulate in the air of your room all day....these are the ones that are more danger to your lungs...which is why I use a room filter also.
Regards Phill

 

Hi,

I wouldn't think anyone is happy about nail dust and their noxious effects on the eyes and lungs, but what to do?
I know using a drill to reduce nails is not mandatory but even using a diamond deb is hardly conducive to good health either as this method still produces a lot of nail dust; larger size particles admittedly but tell that to your corneas! Personally I'm using the (vacuum) drill less and less nowadays, and where possible use the shaver-type burrs as they produce less heat and larger particles.
I'm not overly happy with the spray-type drills either as the spray goes everywhere. OK, they are nice to finish off a small corn, but you still have to contend with the aerosols, and I'm not sure a HEPA filter works for these.
Perhaps I should do what the miners did 100 years ago and employ a canary to tell me when enough is enough. Or would that be cruel?

Cheers,
Graeme