What could result from inflammation of the nailbed?

Inflammation of the nailbed, known as paronychia or onychia depending on the specific condition, can lead to significant changes in the nail structure. One of the most common outcomes of this inflammation is the loss of the nail. This is often due to the underlying infection or inflammation damaging the nail matrix, which is the tissue that produces the nail. When the nail matrix is compromised, the base of the nail may become unstable or cease to function altogether, leading to nail loss.

In some cases, if the inflammation is severe or prolonged, the nail may eventually detach from the nail bed or stop growing altogether. While the other options may seem plausible, they do not accurately reflect the primary and more probable consequence of nailbed inflammation in typical clinical scenarios. Therefore, the association between inflammation of the nailbed and the potential for nail loss clearly supports the rationale for selecting this as the correct response.