Prevention and treatment of nonfreezing cold injuries and warm water immersion tissue injuries: supplement to Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Frostbite

Ken Zafren, Sarah Hollis, Eric A. Weiss, Daniel Danzl, Jessie Wilburn, Nadia Kimmel, Chris Imray, Gordon Giesbrecht, Mike Tipton

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We convened an expert panel to develop evidence-based guidelines for the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of nonfreezing cold injuries (NFCIs; trench foot and immersion foot) and warm water immersion injuries (warm water immersion foot and tropical immersion foot) in prehospital and hospital settings. The panel graded the recommendations based on the quality of supporting evidence and the balance between benefits and risks/burdens according to the criteria published by the American College of Chest Physicians. Treatment is more difficult with NFCIs than with warm water immersion injuries. In contrast to warm water immersion injuries that usually resolve without sequelae, NFCIs may cause prolonged debilitating symptoms, including neuropathic pain and cold sensitivity.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)172-181
    JournalWilderness and Environmental Medicine
    Volume32
    Issue number2
    Early online date30 Apr 2023
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2023

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