Cold injury may be local or systemic. Sheridan et al reported 3 stages of localized cold injury (frostbite).
Parameters:
(1) clinical features on presentation
(2) clinical features after rewarming
(3) perfusion
Features on Presentation |
Appearance After Rewarming |
Perfusion |
Stage |
pallor with numbness and burning |
erythema |
present before and after rewarming |
I |
pallor and insensate |
blistering |
present after rewarming |
II |
frozen and insensate |
hemorrhagic blisters |
present after rewarming |
III |
frozen and insensate |
hemorrhagic blisters |
none (necrosis) |
III |
Factors making localized cold injury worse:
(1) tobacco use
(2) diabetes and/or peripheral neuropathy
Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
ICD-10: ,