Treatment of frostbite
History and examination should identify whether the injury occurred within the past 24 hours and the severity (mild or severe) (1)
- mild cases may be managed locally
- potentially severe injuries may require discussion with a specialist unit and transfer if necessary
- in case of a severe injury presenting less than 24 hours after injury, transfer of patient urgently to a unit with thrombolysis capability should be considered
Management of frostbite can be roughly divided into two phases:
- pre hospital care
- hospital care
Reference:
- McIntosh SE, Freer L, Grissom CK, et al. Wilderness Medical Society clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of frostbite: 2024 update. Wilderness Environ Med. 2024 Jun;35(2):183-97.
- Sheridan RL, Goverman JM, Walker TG. Diagnosis and treatment of frostbite. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jun 9;386(23):2213-20.
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