Nail Surgery SOP

What's inside

This standard operating procedure is fully drafted and structured, ready to brand and complete for your service. It covers:

• 1. Purpose
• 2. Scope
• 3. Definitions and abbreviations
• 4. Responsibilities
• 5. Procedure
• 6. Post-operative review
• 7. If something goes wrong
• 8. Training and competence
• 9. Monitoring and audit
• 10. Version control and review
• 11. Appendix A - Procedure record core fields
• 12. Appendix B - Patient aftercare summary
• 13. Related documents
• 14. Disclaimer

CQC fundamental standard

Legislation & standards it maps to

• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 - in particular Regulation 11 (Need for consent), Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment), Regulation 17 (Good governance) and Regulation 20 (Duty of candour)
• Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (as amended)
• Health and Social Care Act 2008: code of practice on the prevention and control of infections
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) - phenol
• Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013

Who it applies to

All podiatrists performing nail surgery and the staff assisting them at [Organisation Name]

Glossary

Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.

Aseptic non-touch technique

A way of working that keeps the parts touching the wound completely untouched, so germs are not carried in.

Avulsion

Removing the nail, or part of it.

Capillary refill

Pressing the toe and timing how quickly the colour returns, as a quick check of blood supply.

Digital block

An injection at the base of the toe that numbs the whole toe.

Doppler

A handheld device that listens to blood flow in the arteries of the foot.

Matrix

The part under the base of the nail that grows the nail.

Matrixectomy

Treating the matrix so that part of the nail does not grow back.

Phenol

A corrosive chemical applied to the nail matrix so the removed part of the nail does not regrow.

Spicule

A small splinter of nail left behind, which can make the problem come back.

Sulcus

The groove at the side of the nail.

Tourniquet

A tight band round the toe to stop bleeding during the procedure. It must always be removed.

How it works

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3. Complete the placeholders for your service, then have it approved before use.
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