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The effect of acrylic nails on the measurement of oxygen saturation as determined by pulse oximetry.

Pulse oximetry (Spo2) is a simple, noninvasive method that is widely used to determine oxygen saturation in patients undergoing surgical procedures. Artificial acrylic nails have recently become fashionable to strengthen and lengthen nails. This study investigates the effect of unpolished acrylic nails on the measurement of oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry. Data were collected during a 3-month period. Thirty women, average age 32 years (range 18 to 61 years), were recruited at a high-volume nail salon in northwestern Pennsylvania. A baseline pulse oximetry reading was obtained on each subject's natural, unpolished fingernail using a Nellcor N-20/N-20P portable pulse oximeter (Nellcor Incorporated, Hayward, California). A licensed nail technician applied the acrylic compound to the same finger. After the compound had hardened in approximately 5 minutes, a second reading was obtained on the unpolished acrylic nail. The mean pulse oximetry reading at baseline was 97.33% and after acrylic nail application, 97.58%. Using a paired Student's t test, no statistically significant differences existed between readings. This study demonstrates that unpolished acrylic nails do not affect pulse oximetry measurements of oxygen saturation. Patients may not need to remove unpolished acrylic nails before surgery.