Final answer:
For an onychectomy, a tourniquet should be placed distal to the elbow to prevent damage to the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve is critical in providing sensation and function to portions of the hand and digits.
Step-by-step explanation:
An onychectomy is a surgical procedure commonly referred to as declawing. During this procedure, it is critical to prevent damage to the nerves of the forelimb. A tourniquet should be correctly placed to avoid any damage when operating on the digits (fingers or toes). The median nerve is one of the main nerves running through the forelimb and is responsible for innervating the front paws. It is also associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a compression of the nerve at the wrist resulting in pain, numbness, and tingling.
Placing a tourniquet distal to the elbow can help in surgeries that involve the lower limb extremities; however, when performing procedures on the digits, like an onychectomy, one must avoid affecting major nerves that have significant functions. The radial, ulnar, and median nerves are all in close proximity to each other but serve different areas of the forelimb. To answer your question, for an onychectomy, a tourniquet should be placed distal to the elbow to prevent damage to the ulnar nerve.