Cold Injury -- Frostbite
Abstract
There is no good way to treat a frostbitten extremity. At best, the physician currently can only avoid additional damage by overly vigorous treatment. In civilian practice the problem is of limited importance occurring primarily in those exposed to cold while intoxicated or following accidental outdoor exposure. But during wars, life and limb destruction by cold may equal or exceed casualties from enemy action. the names of campaigns serves to recall such terrible scenarios: The 1812 retreat from Moscow; Trench foot in World War I, Frostbite during battles in the Ardennes of Stalingrad in World War II; Chosin Reservoir in Korea. The medical problem is two fold: 1) How to minimize tissue damage in a still cold extremity and, 2) How to treat an extremity following rewarming. The current studies only address the first question.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 09, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA122986
Entities
Organizations
- University of Colorado Health