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Disposable Barrel Used for Easy and Fast Toe Space Examination
Address for correspondence: Dr. Muhammed Mukhtar, Mukhtar Skin Centre, Katihar Medical College Road, Katihar 854105, India. E-mail: drmmukhtar20@gmail.com
This article was originally published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.
Abstract
Abstract
Chronic candidiasis with bacterial infection is common infection in the toe web which is is not inspected and treated well in early stage, and it is now the cause of cellulitis in the leg in a number of cases. To examine the narrow space of the toe web and to treat and to reduce the complication, we described the use a disposable syringe barrel.
Keywords
20 mL
candidiasis
cellulitis
disposable syringe
infection
inspection
toe
toe space
PROBLEM
Candidiasis with bacterial infection is common in the interdigital space of the toe, and it may cause cellulitis in the leg, especially in diabetic and comorbid patients.[12] So this space should be examined well. However, because of the narrow area, it is not properly visualized and early infections may go unnoticed, and there is no specialized instrument for the same. Forceps can be used for examining the space, but it is a cumbersome process. Here, the authors have described the use of a disposable syringe barrel to inspect the interdigital space of the foot.
SOLUTION
A disposable syringe barrel (20 mL) is readily available in any clinic. The needle hub (i.e., outlet) of the syringe is cut, and an atraumatic smooth barrel is created, which can be easily inserted into the interdigital space. After insertion of the barrel in the space, the inspection of the toe web becomes easy [Figure 1A–F]. After proper instructions on how to use it, the syringe can be given to the patient for doing the same, and it reduces the workload of the medical staff. The barrel can be reused on another patient after disinfection with sodium hypochlorite spray, which is routinely available in the clinic. It can be kept in 2.4% glutaraldehyde or in 5% povidone-iodine. The size of the barrel should be selected on the basis of the age of the patient and interdigital space of the toe web. Thus, the barrel is a good option for webbed space inspection of the toe and helpful in making clinical diagnosis at an early stage to prevent complications [Figure 2A–D].
- The normal interdigital space of toe in the normal state (A), abducted state (B), and interdigital space of toes after insertion of the barrel (C–F)
- (A–D) The interdigital spaces having intertrigo are inspected with the help of a syringe barrel
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
REFERENCES
- Risk factors for nonpurulent leg cellulitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Dermatol. 2017;177:382-94.
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- Prevalence of intertrigo and associated factors: A secondary data analysis of four annual multicentre prevalence studies in the Netherlands. Int J Nurs Stud. 2020;104:103437.
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