ARTICLE lateral nail fold. When the appropriate brace is chosen, the nail plate and surrounding area is disinfected. The nail plate should be filed prior to treatment to remove any loose debris. A swap containing alcohol is used to wipe down the nail. This is left to dry. This brace is slightly bent to conform to the curvature of the nail. The brace is then wiped with alcohol and left to dry. A thin layer of adhesive is applied to the underside if the brace and this is placed on the nail plate. It is positioned slightly more to the area of the nail that is more involuted or piercing the sulcus. Pressure is applied on both edges of the brace for about 15 seconds. After 2 minutes the wire loop is tightened using the mental implement supplied in the box. This is tightened to a point that the patient is comfortable with. A wire cutter is used to cut the excess wire. Pedigel is placed into the recess of the brace. This is left to set using the micro lamp for 15 seconds. The brace is left on for up to 6 weeks provided the brace doesn’t fall off. The brace is then removed the toe is reviewed and it may require a second brace.
Next month my dear friend Jennifer Cahill who recently graduated from the Queen Margaret University is going to talk about her experience post graduation. I would like to thank you all for reading my articles over the past twelve months and I hope to write more in the future.
References: Figure 1. Podofix components.2012. [Online image]. Available at: http://www.podofix.me/en/podofix_setup.html [Accessed May 15th 2012]. Figure 2. Glueing on the brace[Online image. Available at: http://www.podofix.me/en/podofix_setup_mode.html [Accessed May 15th 2012]. Figure 3. Microlamp.2012 [Online image]. Available at : http://www.podofix.me/en/podofix_setup_mode.html [Accessed May 15th 2012]. Podofix.2012.Podofix.[Online]Availableat:http://www.podofix.m e/en/podofix_setup_mode.html [Accessed May 15th 2012].
Figure 2
Figure 3
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