Welcome to the Podiatry Arena forums

You are currently viewing our podiatry forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view all podiatry discussions and access our other features. By joining our free global community of Podiatrists and other interested foot health care professionals you will have access to post podiatry topics (answer and ask questions), communicate privately with other members, upload content, view attachments, receive a weekly email update of new discussions, access other special features. Registered users do not get displayed the advertisements in posted messages. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our global Podiatry community today!

  1. Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
Dismiss Notice
Have you liked us on Facebook to get our updates? Please do. Click here for our Facebook page.
Dismiss Notice
Do you get the weekly newsletter that Podiatry Arena sends out to update everybody? If not, click here to organise this.

Nail Tufts - Tips

Discussion in 'General Issues and Discussion Forum' started by Footinthecity, Nov 16, 2007.

  1. Footinthecity

    Footinthecity Member


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    Hi
    This is the first time I've posted on this site (I'm a UK Pod Student) Podiatry Arena seems like a extremely useful website that I will be visiting regularly! I was just after some general advice on how to determine a nail tuft. I'm finding I can waste valuable time as I'm too cautious to nip nails to their proper length in case I cut a nail tuft. Any tips would be great.:confused:
     
  2. Cameron

    Cameron Well-Known Member

    Footinthecity

    If you have a solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide (10 vols) a few drops across the free edge and sulci will give off nacent oxygen in the presence of tissue fluid and temporarily hydrate the skin - the makes it easier to determine vascular areas. It is a pretty violent reaction which helps displace loose keratin cells (making it easier to remove onychophosis). Often you will get a fizzy white precipitation which is water with the extra molecule released. If stinging is reported (very rare) dilute the application by adding water.

    Hydrogen perioxide was commonly used in podiatry to clean out small wounds up until a few years ago when it was found it could damage granulating tissue. Since then it seems to have disappeared but is very useful when cutting tricky nails.

    An alternative is to use 0.9% saline solution to hydrate the free edge of the nail.

    toeslayer
     
  3. Admin2

    Admin2 Administrator Staff Member

  4. milo2145

    milo2145 Member

    we were taught in uni to squeeze the nippers and if the patient jumps there is a nail tuft! not sure if that is the best way though lol
    most patients dont have nail tufts, and usually they are fairly obvious to you as flesh that sticks to the underside of the nail.
    if you tilt your chair so you can see the underside of the nail when you are cutting you can make sure that your nippers is immediately under the nail and you are not grabbing any flesh, even with nail tufts you can still cut the nail short with this technique. if you nibble along the nail rather than opening up your nipper each clip your nipper tip will alos push the flesh aside as you cut rather than cutting through it.
    its one of those things that will come to you with practice - and you will draw blood now and again - most of the time the patient is ok with it lol.
     
  5. Crystal tips

    Crystal tips Member

    I trim the nail a bit, then use a wet drill where i suspect a vascular tuft. Works brilliantly, and can even cure the tuft!
     
  6. Footinthecity

    Footinthecity Member

    Is the purpose of the wet drill to prevent it feeling hot on the patient?
    thanks
     
  7. Crystal tips

    Crystal tips Member

    Yes, having an accompanying jet of water keeps the bur cool, thus you can use it on skin.
     
  8. One Foot In The Grave

    One Foot In The Grave Active Member

    I've never heard the term "nail tuft" before.


    Is it a regional term?
     
  9. Footinthecity

    Footinthecity Member

    Lecturers/ Uni Clinicians and NHS Placement Mentors have used this term with me in describing when skin gets pulled up towards the nail making it at times difficult to determine what is nail and what is skin when trimming nails. Not sure if its just a NW UK term though, I'm only a student at the moment!
     
  10. Cameron

    Cameron Well-Known Member

    netizens

    dermal protrusion which is frequently very vascular

    toeslayer
     
Loading...

Share This Page