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Practical Knowledge for Podiatry and Foot Care
Properly Cleaning Rotary Instruments: How to Avoid Discoloration
Anyone who regularly works with burs knows the problem: rotary instruments discolor, get brown spots, or no longer appear truly clean after reprocessing. Here you will learn why this can happen and how to carefully clean, disinfect, and reprocess your burs.
Why do rotary instruments discolor?
Hello dear foot care enthusiasts! Rotary instruments like burs are part of daily work in podiatry and professional foot care. It is all the more annoying when the instruments turn brown or show deposits after some time.
Such discolorations often do not occur suddenly, but rather due to small errors in reprocessing. These include dried residues, excessively long exposure times, cleaning or disinfection agents that are not completely rinsed off, or lower-quality material.
The good news: With a clear procedure, you can avoid many of these problems and ensure that your instruments remain clean, functional, and professionally usable for longer.
Important note: This article does not replace manufacturer information, hygiene plans, or legal requirements. In practice, please always adhere to the valid requirements, the information provided by your product manufacturers, and the reprocessing instructions from the instrument manufacturers.
The correct classification of instruments
Burs, like other medical instruments, fall into a risk category. This classification is important because it dictates how an instrument must be cleaned, disinfected, and, if necessary, sterilized.
Non-critical
Non-critical instruments only come into contact with intact skin. The requirements are lower than for semi-critical or critical instruments, but they must still be implemented cleanly and demonstrably.
Semi-critical
Semi-critical instruments are used on skin or mucous membranes. Here, particularly thorough cleaning and disinfection are required.
Critical
Critical instruments enter sterile areas or come into contact with blood, wound exudates, or other bodily fluids. For these instruments, particularly high requirements for reprocessing apply.
Different specifications result depending on the classification. Therefore, it is important that you correctly evaluate your instruments and adhere to the appropriate reprocessing steps.
Cleaning and Sterilization Step-by-Step
To ensure your burs last long and no deposits or discolorations occur, a structured process is crucial. Particularly important are timely pre-cleaning, correct exposure times, and thorough rinsing.
1
Pre-cleaning immediately after use
Pre-cleaning should be carried out as soon as possible after use, ideally within one hour. If blood, skin particles, or wound exudates dry on, they can become firmly attached and difficult to remove later.
Tip: Thoroughly brush the burs with a suitable plastic brush under running water and then rinse them carefully.
2
Ultrasonic Cleaning
After pre-cleaning, the burs are placed in the ultrasonic bath. Lay them as horizontally as possible so that the sound can work effectively and avoid unfavorable shadowing.
Important: Adhere to the specified exposure time. Longer ultrasonic cleaning does not automatically make the instrument cleaner, but can further stress the material.
3
Disinfection in the bath
After ultrasonic cleaning, the disinfection bath follows. Here too, the exposure time is crucial. If burs remain in the solution for too long, the agent can attack the material and promote discoloration.
Also pay attention to the correct dosage and ensure that the disinfectant is suitable for your instruments.
4
Thorough Rinsing
After disinfection, the burs must be thoroughly rinsed under running water. As a guideline: at least one minute, unless manufacturer specifications state otherwise.
Caution: Insufficient rinsing is one of the most common causes of brown spots, residues, or deposits on rotary instruments.
5
Inspection and Packaging
After cleaning, the burs should be carefully inspected, for example under magnification. Only clean, intact, and flawless instruments should be packaged further.
Tip: Leave enough space in the sterile packaging. This allows the sterilization process to run reliably.
6
Sterilization in an Autoclave
In a suitable autoclave, the burs are sterilized according to valid specifications. After successful sterilization and correct storage, the instruments are ready for use again.
Common causes of brown spots
Despite careful work, it can happen that burs show brown spots or deposits after reprocessing. The cause is often one of the following points.
Insufficient Pre-cleaning
Residues of blood, skin particles, or secretions can dry on and become fixed. If not removed promptly, they can be difficult to remove later.
Excessive exposure time in the ultrasonic bath
Longer ultrasonic cleaning does not automatically improve the result. On the contrary: the material can be unnecessarily stressed.
Too long exposure time in the disinfection bath
If instruments remain in the solution longer than recommended, the metal can be attacked. This can promote discoloration or material changes.
Inadequate Rinsing
If residues of disinfectants, enzyme baths, or cleaning solutions remain, spots or deposits can occur.
Inferior Bur Quality
Inexpensive burs made of lower-quality material are more prone to discoloration. Not every material is equally resistant to cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization.
Conclusion: Quality and diligence pay off
Those who correctly clean and reprocess rotary instruments can significantly support their lifespan. It is crucial to perform each step cleanly and not try to save time in the wrong place.
You should pay particular attention to this
- Use high-quality burs.
- Adhere to manufacturer's cleaning and disinfection guidelines.
- Perform pre-cleaning as soon as possible.
- Do not exceed exposure times.
- Rinse thoroughly after disinfection.
- Carefully inspect instruments before packaging.
If you repeatedly experience problems with discoloration despite correct reprocessing, it is worth contacting the manufacturer. This way, you can clarify whether the material, cleaning agents, dosage, or individual process steps should be adjusted.
Video Tutorial: Properly Cleaning Rotary Instruments
In the video tutorial, you will see the individual steps explained practically. It is well suited for discussing procedures in a team or reviewing your own routine.
Frequently asked questions about cleaning rotary instruments
Why do burs turn brown after reprocessing?
Brown spots can result from residues, insufficient rinsing, excessively long exposure times, or inferior material. The cause is often a small error within the reprocessing procedure.
When should pre-cleaning be done?
Pre-cleaning should take place as soon as possible after use, ideally within one hour. This allows residues to be removed before they dry on.
Can I leave burs in the ultrasonic bath for longer?
No. The recommended exposure time should not be exceeded. A longer cleaning does not automatically improve the result and can stress the material.
Why is rinsing after disinfection so important?
Rinsing removes residues of disinfectant or cleaning solutions. If these remain on the instrument, deposits or discoloration can occur.
Which brush is suitable for pre-cleaning?
A suitable plastic brush is generally suitable for pre-cleaning. It should clean thoroughly without unnecessarily damaging the instrument's surface.
Do all burs need to be sterilized?
This depends on the risk classification, the area of application, and the applicable regulations. Critical instruments have higher reprocessing requirements than non-critical instruments.
What to do if burs remain discolored despite cleaning?
Check pre-cleaning, exposure times, dosage, rinsing process, and instrument quality. If the problem persists, the manufacturer should be contacted.
Does the quality of the burs really matter?
Yes. High-quality materials are generally more resistant to cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization. For frequently used instruments, quality is particularly worthwhile.
Clean burs start with a clear process
Properly cleaning rotary instruments means: timely pre-cleaning, adhering to exposure times, thorough rinsing, inspection, and proper sterilization. This protects your instruments and supports a professional hygiene standard in your practice.
