Nail Disorders & Treatment Flashcards
7 cards from real CMP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Nail Disorders & Treatment flashcards as text
A client presents with onycholysis of the big toenail following aggressive pedicure work. What is the most appropriate action?
Answer: Refer the client to a podiatrist and avoid filing under the free edge
Onycholysis (nail-plate separation) can worsen with trauma under the free edge; referral is warranted if the cause is unclear or spreading.
Which condition is characterized by an abnormal thickening and upward curvature of the nail plate, often seen in elderly clients?
Answer: Onychogryposis
Onychogryposis (ram's-horn nail) is a hypertrophic deformity common in older adults caused by poor circulation or repeated trauma.
A pedicure client has transverse depressions running across all ten nails at the same relative position. These are most likely caused by:
Answer: A systemic illness or physiological stress that temporarily halted nail growth
Beau's lines appear across all nails simultaneously when nail growth is disrupted by systemic illness, high fever, or severe stress.
When performing a pedicure on a client with mild clubbing of the toenails, a CMP should:
Answer: Note the condition, avoid aggressive services, and encourage the client to consult a physician
Nail clubbing can signal underlying cardiopulmonary or systemic disease and warrants medical evaluation.
Which antifungal medication is commonly prescribed orally for onychomycosis because it incorporates into the nail plate as it grows?
Answer: Terbinafine
Terbinafine (Lamisil) is an oral allylamine antifungal that binds to the nail plate and is the first-line prescription treatment for onychomycosis.
A client's toenail shows a dark longitudinal streak (melanonychia striata). The CMP's most appropriate response is:
Answer: Document it and strongly advise the client to have it evaluated by a dermatologist
Longitudinal melanonychia can indicate subungual melanoma, a serious malignancy, and must be referred for medical diagnosis.
Pterygium unguis differs from a simple cuticle overgrowth in that it involves:
Answer: Permanent forward fusion of the proximal nail fold to the nail plate
Pterygium unguis is an irreversible scarring of the proximal nail fold that fuses it to the nail plate, unlike normal cuticle that can be safely pushed back.