Forklift Foot or Ingrown Toenail?

Once again I have to delve deep into my personal obsession regarding what can be known as the greatest “train wreck” on television, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo“. In the episode Girl Power, Jessica (aka Chubbs) goes for a pedicure and the family has the argument over who has uglier feet, Mama June or Chubbs? Chubbs has a serious fungal toenail infection and dry, cracked heels , but June has the notorious “Forklift Foot”.

 According to legend, Mama June used to work at a warehouse where her left big toe was run over by a forklift. It left the toe severely deformed to the point that June keeps it covered at all times. She wears socks around the house and in the yard. Even when getting in water at the pool, beach or lake, June has socks on to hide her deformed toe at all times. She even got a pedicure-without removing her socks! What’s amazing is that June is comfortable enough on national TV to pass gas, belch and pick her nose. She pokes fun at herself and allows the cameras to record her having her chin hairs and neck hairs plucked. For a woman who seems to have no sense of embarrassment, June is visibly embarrassed when her damaged toe is mentioned on camera. In the video above we see a roundtable discussion on whether her toe is an ingrown toenail or an infection of…well I guess a gangrene infection. It is obvious that June has had major damage to her toe, but what she doesn’t know is that it is easily fixable.

June’s Forklift Foot

And so, the legendary debate over whether this is gonorrhea, gangrene or an ingrown toenail continues. I have asked my team to contact TLC and Mama June to let her know that there are so many life-changing options for her. Based on the graphic image to the left, it appears as though the toenail suffered major trauma from the forklift, probably damaging the cells at the base of the toenail that cause the nail to grow. It also appears that a previous surgery took place to prevent the toenail from growing inward on the borders. This is called a “Matrixectomy” or removal of the nail matrix. This procedure entails taking some of the skin from the side of the toe and flapping it over the ingrown border. The treatment for this is simple. Cosmetically, a simple plastic surgery skin flap would relocate the folded skin back into a more natural appearing location. Secondly, the toenail could be either removed or enhanced via the Keryflex toenail procedure. Keryflex would leave the nail with a nice cosmetic appearance.
If completely and permanently removed, the nail could actually look better. There wouldn’t be severely ingrown borders and overgrown edges giving the nail a squished appearance. The flat under surface of the nail bed would have a thin nail-like bed that would be easier on the eyes. This thin, hardened nail is common after ingrown toenail removal. Over 3-6 months after ingrown toenail removal it slowly thickens and grows out.
It pains me to admit that I love watching this train wreck, but the freak show of forklift foot keeps me watching every week.
For more information on ingrown toenails and ingrown toenail procedures or terrible choices in Television please contact:
Dr. Marcin N. Vaclaw
Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands
p. 281.909.7722
e. info@FASthewoodlands.com
i. www.FASthewoodlands.com