Practical Review of the Current Management of Frostbite Injuries

Summary:. Frostbite is an injury that occurs when the skin and tissues are exposed to temperatures below their freezing point. This type of injury can lead to various complications such as functional loss, chronic pain, and psychological trauma. As such, understanding frostbite management is crucial...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Taborah Z. Zaramo, BS, Japjit K. Green, MD, Jeffrey E. Janis, MD, FACS
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer 2022-10-01
Series:Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000004618
_version_ 1811216639856738304
author Taborah Z. Zaramo, BS
Japjit K. Green, MD
Jeffrey E. Janis, MD, FACS
author_facet Taborah Z. Zaramo, BS
Japjit K. Green, MD
Jeffrey E. Janis, MD, FACS
author_sort Taborah Z. Zaramo, BS
collection DOAJ
description Summary:. Frostbite is an injury that occurs when the skin and tissues are exposed to temperatures below their freezing point. This type of injury can lead to various complications such as functional loss, chronic pain, and psychological trauma. As such, understanding frostbite management is crucial for optimal patient care. A scoping review was conducted in February 2022 using PubMed, EMBASE, referenced articles and snowballing to identify relevant published articled using the terms “frostbite” and “management” and “surgery. Articles related to pathophysiology, classifications, radiography, complications, and medical and surgical management were included to formulate recommendations for practical management. Two hundred fifty-one articles were identified and 54 met inclusion criteria. Rapid rewarming in warm water (40-42 °C) remains the standard of care. Thrombolytic therapy has been shown in numerous studies to improve tissue salvage. Radiographic imaging has become crucial in the evaluation and management in frostbite injury. Current literature recommends delayed surgery with soft tissue debridement and bone scan-guided amputations. Surgical intervention including debridement, selective blister drainage, fasciotomies, surgical salvage, skin grafts‚ and flaps are often necessary in these patients towards optimizing form and function. The true prevalence and incidence of frostbite injury is unknown. A centralized national database will improve our understanding of the diagnostic and management modalities used in frostbite care. Plastic surgeons have a critical role in the management of frostbite care and must work with an interdisciplinary team to identify the best treatment route for optimal patient care.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T06:42:39Z
format Article
id doaj.art-83b31bc42fca470cb73c512a5e6e2812
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2169-7574
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T06:42:39Z
publishDate 2022-10-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer
record_format Article
series Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
spelling doaj.art-83b31bc42fca470cb73c512a5e6e28122022-12-22T03:43:40ZengWolters KluwerPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open2169-75742022-10-011010e461810.1097/GOX.0000000000004618202210000-00047Practical Review of the Current Management of Frostbite InjuriesTaborah Z. Zaramo, BS0Japjit K. Green, MD1Jeffrey E. Janis, MD, FACS2From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.Summary:. Frostbite is an injury that occurs when the skin and tissues are exposed to temperatures below their freezing point. This type of injury can lead to various complications such as functional loss, chronic pain, and psychological trauma. As such, understanding frostbite management is crucial for optimal patient care. A scoping review was conducted in February 2022 using PubMed, EMBASE, referenced articles and snowballing to identify relevant published articled using the terms “frostbite” and “management” and “surgery. Articles related to pathophysiology, classifications, radiography, complications, and medical and surgical management were included to formulate recommendations for practical management. Two hundred fifty-one articles were identified and 54 met inclusion criteria. Rapid rewarming in warm water (40-42 °C) remains the standard of care. Thrombolytic therapy has been shown in numerous studies to improve tissue salvage. Radiographic imaging has become crucial in the evaluation and management in frostbite injury. Current literature recommends delayed surgery with soft tissue debridement and bone scan-guided amputations. Surgical intervention including debridement, selective blister drainage, fasciotomies, surgical salvage, skin grafts‚ and flaps are often necessary in these patients towards optimizing form and function. The true prevalence and incidence of frostbite injury is unknown. A centralized national database will improve our understanding of the diagnostic and management modalities used in frostbite care. Plastic surgeons have a critical role in the management of frostbite care and must work with an interdisciplinary team to identify the best treatment route for optimal patient care.http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000004618
spellingShingle Taborah Z. Zaramo, BS
Japjit K. Green, MD
Jeffrey E. Janis, MD, FACS
Practical Review of the Current Management of Frostbite Injuries
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
title Practical Review of the Current Management of Frostbite Injuries
title_full Practical Review of the Current Management of Frostbite Injuries
title_fullStr Practical Review of the Current Management of Frostbite Injuries
title_full_unstemmed Practical Review of the Current Management of Frostbite Injuries
title_short Practical Review of the Current Management of Frostbite Injuries
title_sort practical review of the current management of frostbite injuries
url http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000004618
work_keys_str_mv AT taborahzzaramobs practicalreviewofthecurrentmanagementoffrostbiteinjuries
AT japjitkgreenmd practicalreviewofthecurrentmanagementoffrostbiteinjuries
AT jeffreyejanismdfacs practicalreviewofthecurrentmanagementoffrostbiteinjuries