Expanding horizons of the uses of chalazion clamp

PROBLEM

Due to lack of immobilization and adequate surrounding pressure around the lesion, there is a risk of dissipation of a sclerosing agent beyond the target area during sclerotherapy, leading to complications like Nicolau syndrome.^[1] Immobilization and central pressure are also important while enucleating corn’s central nidus or removing the central deeper component of lesions like verruca.

SOLUTION

For a long time, the Chalazion clamp has been used to assist dermatological procedures such as ear lobe repair, oral mucosal procedures, nasal alae, and scrotal surgeries. The advantages of its use include hemostasis, a firm immobile surface to operate on, maintaining a firm grip on a slippery surface like mucosa, and easy manipulation of the surgical site.^[2] We extended the use of a chalazion clamp in preventing dissipation of the sclerosing agent beyond the required target while performing sclerotherapy over sites like fingers [Figure 1 and Video 1], toes (except the great toe due to the limited opening of the clamp), lips, and buccal mucosa. It immobilized the operating area and pressed the surrounding blood vessels, thereby preventing dissipation. We also used it while performing procedures such as paring and radiofrequency ablation of corn, callosity, and verruca over fingers and toes [Figure 2]. It helped in the procedure by providing a firm immobile surface and protruding the central core of corn and the deeper part of callosity and verruca by compressing the center of the lesion. This made the procedure quite convenient, fast, and easy.

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Figure 1:

Image showing a pyogenic granuloma over a finger held by a chalazion clamp.

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Figure 2:

Post-paring image of verruca over a finger, held by chalazion clamp.

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The use of this easily available and inexpensive instrument can make minor dermatosurgical procedures simple and prevent certain complications.