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Hi all! Its been a while since I have posted on the forums so no better time than the present to get back into it regularly. I'm not sure if this question has been posted before but i am keen to hear what members think or have experienced.

Currently for mild nail resections (ingrown nail wedges) we use the #15 blade to free up involuted edges. Whilst we do re-iterate the option of a PNA for recurring episodes, not all patients like this option and opt to return regularly for trimming of nails and clearing of sulci.

My question is; with blades available in many shapes and sizes, are there any better alternatives to using the #15 and beaver blades for these mild resections. I'm thinking in terms of effectiveness, ease of use and patient comfort.

Keen to hear what members think. :)

 

I prefer the beaver 61. It is about the thickness of most nails. The 15 is so wide/tall that I don't see how you can cut stuff you want to cut without cutting stuff you don't want to cut. I could see, and have seen, the 15 used for surgical matrixectomies. I don't see it for taking off a wedge of nail or in use for a partial nail avulsion.

 

In partial nail avulsion procedures I agree 100%. I wouldn't touch it with a 15. We went through university being taught to do wedge resections using a beaver blade however, my experience in the 'real world', pods seem to use the tip of a #15 to free up a wedged section of nail and then use a blacks file to remove it before clearing out the sulcus for immediate relief of IGN pains. Whether or not it's because regular blades are cheaper or something I wouldn't have a clue. But using the method myself we seem to get good results for patients.