Management of a patient with frostbite

Abstract

Introduction and purpose

Frostbite is a serious injury caused by cold, which is an inseparable element of human contact

with nature. It can cause tissue damage and loss of function if not properly treated. It

treatment consists of several stages that require the involvement of many people. The purpose

of the article is to summarize information on epidemiology, pathophysiology, prehospital and

hospital procedures and to draw attention to the complexity of patient care.

Materials and methods

A literature review based on PubMed and Google Scholar using the following keywords: frostbite, cold injury.

Description of the state of knowledge:

The literature review shows the breadth of the issue. The effectiveness of therapy depends on:

knowledge of pathophysiology and risk factors, early diagnosis, discontinuation of exposure

to cold, effective analgesic treatment, fluid therapy, transport of the victim to the appropriate

center, rapid warming of frozen tissues, imaging diagnostics, initiation of thrombolytic

treatment and, if necessary, surgery. It is also important to remember about long-term

complications that worsen the quality of life of patients, such as chronic pain, hyperaesthesia

or impairment or loss of limb functionality.

Conclusions

Frostbite is a relatively rare problem, but especially in winter, every medic will have to deal

with it sooner or later. Considering the above information, the management of a patient with

frostbite is a demanding and long-term process in which the cooperation and involvement of

many medics is important, so it is worth having knowledge about them.