Family Med Medical News about Cold damage to the extremities

Become a Member Today!
Register

Most Viewed Abstracts

1. AHA Guidelines on Cardiac CT for Assessing Coronary Artery Disease

2. Omega-3 fatty acids for bipolar disorder

3. Is folic acid good for everyone

4. ACS Releases Guidelines for HPV Vaccination

5. Vitamin D - A review Free full text

Your Article Summary

See Latest Articles

(Click the title below to leave the MDLinx Network and go to the Journal's Website)

Cold damage to the extremities: frostbite and non-freezing cold injuries
Postgraduate Medical Journal, 09/11/09

Imray C et al. – The treatment of cold injuries to the periphery has advanced substantially in the last 10 years and optimal outcomes are only likely to be achieved if a multidisciplinary team uses the full range of diagnostic and treatment modalities that are now available. The internet and satellite phones with digital images allow immediate access by patients from remote geographical locations to hospital based specialists who can assess cold injuries and advise on early field care. The severity of frostbite injuries can now be assessed with triple phase bone scanning, allowing early prediction of likely subsequent tissue loss. Early hyperbaric oxygen therapy appears to improve outcome and the use of intravenous drugs such as synthetic prostaglandin analogues infusions and tissue plasminogen activator have been shown to reduce amputation rates. In non–freezing cold injuries the early administration of analgesia, the avoidance of secondary exposure, and the use of infrared thermography to assess the injuries are among newer approaches being introduced.

Exclusive Author Commentary
C H E Imray, 09/12/09

Frostbite and non-freezing cold injuries (NFCI) were once primarily military problems, but are becoming increasingly prevalent among the civilian population. In the last 20 years, there has been a growing interest in outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking and mountaineering, and coupled with a sharp increase in the numbers of homeless, there has been a rise in frequency of cold exposure among the civilian population. The effective treatment of frostbite and NFCI has therefore become more of an issue, not only for the rural physician in polar climates, but also for many urban hospitals. Knowledge of the management of cold injuries is therefore important to both the military and civilian medical practitioner. Frostbite injuries to the extremities can have disastrous effects. The injuries frequently affect those who are active and in the prime of their lives; fit people such as agricultural workers, mountaineers, cross-country skiers, expedition members and climbers. The spectrum of injury is enormous, varying from minimal tissue loss with mild long term sequelae, to major necrosis of the distal limbs with subsequent major amputations and resultant phantom limb pain.

<< Previous
Pathogenic organisms in hip joint infections

Next >>
Progesterone Does Not Prevent Preterm Births in Women with Twins