The patient was a 66-year-old woman who experienced pain due to the ingrown toenail on the lateral side of the right hallux. It should be noted that onychocryptosis can give rise to several complications such as infection and inflammation (Khunger & Kandhari, 2012, p. 281). These are some of the main risks that could not be overlooked while treating people who have this problem. Moreover, the patient’s condition was also aggravated by ill-fitting footwear. Researchers note that ill-fitting footwear can significantly increase the effects of onychocryptosis, especially the discomfort of a patient (Khunger & Kandhari, 2012, p. 281). Therefore, the problems faced by this woman were not uncommon. On the whole, this problem requires a medical worker to take several actions to assist the patient.
One should take into account that this condition can significantly impair the health of an individual. First of all, such a person experiences regular discomfort and even pain, especially during walking. Furthermore, ingrown toenails can become more dangerous when a patient has the peripheral vascular disease (Locking-Cusolito et al. 2005, p. 373). In turn, the assessment of the patient indicated that she had some vascular problems in the past. This is why onychocryptosis could have lead to significant complications. This problem is more likely to affect people who are older than fifty. As it has been said before, the risk of infections is also very high in such situations. Moreover, sometimes, surgery can be the only way to treat onychocryptosis, and this option may not be suitable for elderly patients.
Additionally, it is critical to mention other co-morbidities that accompanied onychocryptosis. In particular, my evaluation showed that the patient had bilateral edema, lower limbs cramping, and Hallux abducts Valgus. These problems could not be overlooked because they significantly affected the physical wellbeing of a patient. I had to consider them while developing treatment methods. It was necessary to design interventions that could improve the physical experiences of the patient.
It is vital to speak about the previous history of the patient since this information can be relevant to the case. In particular, it is important to note that the patient had wrist surgery and it was difficult for her to cut her nails. Therefore, one can say that people, who struggle with some disability, are more likely to develop onychocryptosis. This issue is important for developing treatment options and follow-up evaluation.
I took several steps to help the patient. I cut the nails of the patient and explained to her how onychocryptosis can affect the health of afoot. Additionally, I noted that this issue can occur when a person cuts the nails too short because the skin can fold over the nail (Kulkami, 2009, p. 325). People should be aware of this issue to avoid onychocryptosis (Kulkami, 2009, p. 325). In contrast, many individuals forget about personal hygiene. This is one of the reasons why many people have to cope with this problem of ingrown toenails. Furthermore, I needed to debride hyperkeratosis from both feet to improve the experiences of a patient. Furthermore, it was important to use the plantar cover since in this way one can distribute pressure from the first metatarsophalangeal joint (Milankov, Miljkovic, & Popovic 2003). These are the main actions that I had to take. They were important in minimizing the risks of onychocryptosis and improving the physical wellbeing of the patient. In my opinion, these interventions can help a patient avoid many risks in the future.
Apart from that, I can argue that a medical worker should pay close attention to the education of patients. It is important to explain how they can avoid risks to their health. For example, a medical worker can inform people about such aspects as footwear or personal hygiene (Meerabeau, 2011, p. 21). While interacting with my patient, I was able to see the importance of this issue. Provided that a healthcare professional copes with this task, a great number of complications can be avoided. In my presentation of this case, I focused on such aspects as previous medical history, the possible, current condition, and description of the treatment plan. This approach helps to describe medical cases.
Overall, this case shows that onychocryptosis can significantly impair the foot health of a person. Moreover, in many cases, it can be accompanied by other co-morbidities such as Hallux abducts Valgus. Each of these issues should be taken into account by medical workers while helping patients. These are some of the main issues that can be identified. These are the tasks that a medical practitioner should consider.
Reference List
Khunger, N., & Kandhari, R. (2012). Ingrown toenails. Indian Journal Of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprology, 78(3), 279-289.
Kulkami, J. (2009). Textbook of Orthopaedics and Trauma. New York: Jaypee Brothers Publishers. Locking-Cusolito, H., Harwood, L., Wilson, B., Burgess, K., & al, e. (2005).
Prevalence of risk factors predisposing to foot problems in patients on hemodialysis. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 32(4), 373-84.
Milankov, M., Miljkovic, N., & Popovic, N. (2003). Concomitant plantar-+ tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) and metatarsophalangeal joint dislocations. Archives Of Orthopaedic And Trauma Surgery, 123(2-3), 95-97.
Meerabeau,L. (2011). Long Term Conditions: Nursing Care and Management. Boston: John Wiley & Sons.