frostbite

Frostbite is an injury to skin or other living tissue that is allowed to freeze, especially affecting the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. Most often, frostbite occurs in the hands and feet, often preceded by frostnip, a paling or reddening of a body part as its blood vessels constrict that tingles, feels very cold, or simply feels numb. This may be followed by the clumsiness and white or bluish, waxy-looking skin that evidence full-blown frostbite. Swelling or blistering may occur following treatment. Complications may include hypothermia or compartment syndrome.

AI overview

Frostbite is an injury that occurs when skin or living tissue freezes, commonly affecting extremities like fingers, toes, and facial features, and can progress from initial numbness and pale skin to white or bluish, waxy-looking tissue. It matters because it can lead to serious complications such as hypothermia or compartment syndrome, and may cause lasting damage including swelling or blistering even after treatment.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Medical condition (new).name: Frostbite
Medical condition (new).synonyms: Frostnip
Medical condition (new).image: Frost bite.jpg
Medical condition (new).caption: Frostbitten toes two to three days after mountain climbing
Medical condition (new).field: Dermatology, emergency medicine, orthopedics
Medical condition (new).symptoms: Numbness, feeling cold, clumsiness, pale color
Medical condition (new).complications: Hypothermia, compartment syndrome
Medical condition (new).types: Superficial, deep
Medical condition (new).causes: Temperatures below freezing
Medical condition (new).risks: Alcohol, smoking, mental health problems, certain medications, prior cold injury
Medical condition (new).diagnosis: Based on symptoms
Medical condition (new).differential: Frostnip, pernio, trench foot
Medical condition (new).prevention: Avoid cold, wear proper clothing, maintain hydration and nutrition, stay active without becoming exhausted
Medical condition (new).treatment: Rewarming, medication, surgery
Medical condition (new).medication: Ibuprofen, tetanus vaccine, iloprost, thrombolytics
Medical condition (new).frequency: Unknown

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

3,120 papers

Frostbite.ReviewEmergency medicine clinics of North America · 2017Handford C, Thomas O, Imray CHEDOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2016.12.006
Frostbite: Current status and advancements in therapeutics.ReviewJournal of thermal biology · 2020Joshi K, Goyary D, Mazumder B et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102716
Frostbite of The Extremities - Recognition, Evaluation and Treatment.ReviewInjury · 2022Persitz J, Essa A, Ner EB et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2022.07.040
Managing frostbite.ReviewBMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2010Hallam MJ, Cubison T, Dheansa B et al.DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c5864
Diagnosis and Treatment of Frostbite.ReviewThe New England journal of medicine · 2022Sheridan RL, Goverman JM, Walker TGDOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1800868
Frostbite in the Pediatric Population: A Comprehensive Review and a Prospective Canadian Survey.ReviewPediatric emergency care · 2024Ma X, Pouoh JT, Hogue BT et al.DOI: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000003109
Frostbite.ReviewJournal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society · 2008Varnado MDOI: 10.1097/01.WON.0000319135.19176.d8
Frostbite on Denali: a case series and review of treatment options.ReviewJournal of wound care · 2024Johnson-Arbor KKDOI: 10.12968/jowc.2022.0087

via PubMed

Clinical Trials

18 registered

NACOMPLETED
Safety of a Sheath Cryoprobe Bronchoscopic Transbronchial Biopsy TechniqueJohns Hopkins University · NCT04486560
PHASE4NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Outcomes From Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO2) Treatment for Emerging IndicationsJay C. Buckey Jr. · NCT07240649
NACOMPLETED
Analysis of Chilblains pROfile During coVID-19 Epidemic (ACROVID)Poitiers University Hospital · NCT04387955
NACOMPLETED
Sous Vide Rewarming for Frostbitten ExtremitiesDartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center · NCT04633174
NACOMPLETED
Assessment of Vasomotion of People With Idiopathic ChilblainsUniversity of Thessaly · NCT06237517
COMPLETED
Cutaneous Manifestations of Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19).Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre · NCT05094687

via ClinicalTrials.gov

Wikidata facts

Image: Frost bite.jpg

Show 1 more fact

Commons category: Frostbite

Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~18 min read

Article

26 sections

Contents

Signs and symptoms
First degree
Second degree
Third degree
Fourth degree
Causes
Risk factors
Mechanism
Freezing
Rewarming
Non-freezing cold injury
Pathophysiology
Diagnosis
Prevention
Treatment
Rewarming
Medications
Surgery
Prognosis
Grades
Epidemiology
History
Society and culture
Research directions
References
External links

People who are exposed to low temperatures for prolonged periods, such as winter sports enthusiasts, military personnel, and the homeless, are at greatest risk. Other risk factors include drinking alcohol, smoking, mental health problems, certain medications, and prior injuries due to cold. The underlying mechanism involves injury from ice crystals and blood clots in small blood vessels following thawing. Diagnosis is based on symptoms. Severity may be divided into superficial (first and second degree) and deep (third and fourth degree). A bone scan or MRI may help in determining the extent of injury.