Question

read this patients treatment plan: i will begin her on topical corticosteroids and have her follow up in 2–4 months. for any unresponsive areas i will try photochemotherapy. for the patient’s onycholysis, i have referred her to a podiatrist for an onychectomy. according to the plan, the patient is being referred to a podiatrist for which procedure?

1. reconstruction of wrinkled skin
2. removal of a nail
3. removal of tissue that has been destroyed using chemicals
4. rubbing or scraping away the outer surface of the skin
5. treatment using chemicals

Explanation:

We analyze the treatment plan: "For the patient’s onycholysis, I have referred her to a podiatrist for an onychectomy." The term "onychectomy" can be broken down: "onych-" relates to nails, and "-ectomy" means removal. So we match this to the options:

• Option 1: Reconstruction of wrinkled skin is not related to onychectomy.
• Option 2: Removal of a nail matches the meaning of onychectomy (nail removal).
• Option 3: Removal of destroyed tissue with chemicals is not what onychectomy is.
• Option 4: Rubbing/scraping skin surface is not nail removal.
• Option 5: Treatment with chemicals is not onychectomy.

Answer:

1. Removal of a nail