Podiatry instruments

As basic equipment: a nail nipper for thickened nails, a corner nipper for the nail fold, a nail lifter with probe, a scalpel handle with blades for calluses and corns, as well as files and drill bits. What else makes sense is described in The most important instruments for podiatrists.

The nail nipper has a wide, straight or curved cutting edge and shortens the nail plate. The corner nipper tapers to a narrow point and works in the nail fold and at the corners. The end-cutting nipper is a nail nipper whose cutting edge follows the curve of the nail – it removes in one go what would otherwise take several cuts. All three at a glance: podiatry instruments.

• 3 mm – very narrow nail folds, severely curled nails
• 5 mm – the most commonly used width for everyday practice
• 7 to 9 mm – when larger portions of nail need to be removed quickly

With ingrown nails, it is less the width than the tip geometry that determines whether you can reach the fold without injuring the nail wall.

The cross spring opens strongly and quickly – good for a high number of cuts. The buffer spring dampens the return and works more smoothly, which gives control at the nail fold. An adjustable double spring can be set to your own hand strength and is the recommendation when several people use the same nipper. For very thick nails, a compound-action nipper also reduces the effort required.

Yes. The podiatry instruments are Class I medical devices under Regulation (EU) 2017/745. They are supplied non-sterile and are intended for reuse. The requirements behind this are explained in Requirements for medical foot care instruments.

Yes, on request via the practice account. The terms for podiatry and foot care practices are also stored there.

1. Place them in the disinfectant solution immediately after treatment so that nothing dries on
2. Clean – manually with a soft brush or by machine
3. Rinse thoroughly with clear water
4. Dry completely, including the joints
5. Only then package and sterilise

Classification, procedure and validation are the responsibility of your practice. An overview is given in Instrument reprocessing in podiatry.

Almost always because of residual moisture in the joint or chloride residues from disinfectant and tap water – not because the steel is not stainless. A spot of extraneous rust from another instrument can also transfer. Causes and remedies in Rust stains on instruments.

Handle No. 3 takes the small blade shapes (No. 10, 11, 15), handle No. 4 the large ones (No. 20 to 24). The handles are not interchangeable – the blade must match the number. Which shape is intended for what is explained in Scalpel blades: numbers, handles and blade shapes; for gouges, see Gouges: types and handling.

The nail lifter exposes the nail fold and places tamponades without cutting. The excavator has a sharp ring-shaped cutting edge and removes material – such as the core of a corn. The distinction is described in The excavator in foot care.

Instruments with rounded, non-piercing tips and good control over the cutting force – compiled under instruments for diabetics and nail nippers for diabetics. Background on treatment: Foot care for diabetes.

Expose the area with a probe and a nail lifter, then carefully trim with a narrow corner nipper. To straighten the nail plate, braces are used, fitted with orthonyxia pliers. The procedure in detail: Treating ingrown toenails.

Most of the range comes from Hellmuth RUCK in Baden-Württemberg – see RUCK podiatry instruments. In addition, there are the podiatry nippers of the Excellent series and the P series as CE medical devices. Which brand suits which need is compared in Dreiturm, Erbe, RUCK & Co..

Yes – high-quality nippers and scissors can be resharpened several times, which is considerably cheaper than buying new ones. Our sharpening service takes care of this. When it is worthwhile and when it is not is explained in Having nail scissors sharpened.

That depends on whether you want to start with a basic set or work with a full range straight away. A fully calculated breakdown can be found in Setting up a foot care practice – calculating the initial equipment correctly. For ongoing orders, the terms are stored in the practice account.