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Frostbite |
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Definition
Frostbite is damage to the skin
and underlying tissues caused by extreme cold.
Symtoms
- Mild cases -- numbness, prickling, and itching
- Deeper tissues -- loss of sensation and
stiffness
- Severe -- skin becomes white or yellow and loses
its elasticity; the extremity becomes swollen,
blisters, forms dead/gangrenous (dark or black)
tissue
Treatment
- Mild -- place warm hand on affected area. If the
hands become affected, place them in the armpits.
If toes become affected, remove footwear, dry the
feet, and replace with dry footwear.
- More severe -- re-warming affected area in
moving water bath at 104-107 degrees
- Protect affected part
- Protect skin blebs if they occur. Mild soaks
with soapy water
- Antibiotics for deep infections
- Warmed intravenous fluids, gastric (stomach)
lavage with warmed fluids, and oxygen may be needed
in some cases.
- Peritoneal or hemodialysis may be done in severe
cases.
- Physical therapy as needed
- Surgical treatment, only if absolutely
necessary. Rarely, amputation is required as a last
resort.
Warnings
- Do not to re-warm frostbitten limbs with
exercise or by rubbing with snow or ice water.
- Do not re-warm unless you are sure you can
prevent re-freezing -- thawing and then re-freezing
can cause worse damage to the tissues.
- Elderly, homeless, those with illnesses (e.g.,
psychiatric, vascular), smokers, drug abusers, and
infants are at risk.
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