Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) Practice Exam

What condition can lead to an ingrown nail?

1. Onychogryposis

2. Onychophosis

3. Onychia

4. Tinea pedis

The correct answer is: Onychophosis

Onychophosis refers to the thickening of the skin at the lateral borders of a nail, which can create pressure on the nail plate. This pressure can disturb the normal growth of the nail and contribute to it growing into the surrounding tissue, leading to an ingrown nail. The condition is often associated with improper nail trimming, arthritis, or wearing ill-fitting shoes, which can exacerbate the problem. In contrast, while onychogryposis, onychia, and tinea pedis are all nail and skin conditions, they don’t directly lead to ingrown nails in the manner that onychophosis does. Onychogryposis involves an abnormal curvature of the nail leading to thickening and, potentially, discomfort, but it is not primarily characterized by an ingrowth. Onychia refers to inflammation of the nail matrix, often due to infection or trauma, and tinea pedis is a fungal infection affecting the skin of the feet, which might impact overall foot health but does not specifically cause ingrown nails. Thus, onychophosis is the most closely related condition to the development of ingrown nails.