Frostbite (cont.)
Trench foot (immersion injury)
Trench foot (immersion injury) was named after the condition suffered by many soldiers in the trenches during World War I. Trench foot develops after prolonged exposure to a wet, cold environment and is typically a more serious condition than chilblains. The symptoms of trench foot include:
- pain,
- numbness, and swelling,
The affected area may appear:
- red,
- blotchy,
- pale,
- bluish or even black with advanced injury.
As with chilblains, blisters and open sores can also develop. With severe trench foot, the development of gangrene requiring amputation can also occur. The usual recovery period from uncomplicated trench foot can be for several weeks and as with chilblains, subsequent cold sensitivity of the affected area may also occur.
Cold weather-related injuries with tissue freezing
Frostbite
Frostbite occurs when there is freezing of the affected area and it is the most serious of the cold weather-related injuries. Frostbite usually affects the hands, feet, nose, or ears; though other parts of the body may also be affected. This type of injury results from decreased blood flow and heat delivery to body tissues resulting in damaging ice crystal formation.
Frostbite injuries can be classified as either superficial or deep depending on the depth of injury. Superficial frostbite injuries involve the skin and subcutaneous tissues, while deep frostbite injuries extend beyond the subcutaneous tissues and involve the tendons, muscles, nerves, and even bone. Superficial frostbite injuries have a better prognosis than deep injuries.
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