Amputation Risk Factors in Severely Frostbitten Patients

• Main Authors: Anna Carceller, Casimiro Javierre, Martín Ríos, Ginés Viscor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: frostbite; risk factors; amputation; winter sports
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/8/1351

In recent years, the incidence of frostbite has increased among healthy young adults who practice winter sports (skiing, mountaineering, ice climbing and technical climbing/alpinism) at both the professional and amateur levels. Moreover, given that the population most frequently affected is healthy and active, frostbite supposes a substantial interruption of their normal activity and in most cases is associated with long-term sequelae. It particularly has a higher impact when the affected person’s daily activities require exposure to cold environments, as either sports practices or work activities in which low temperatures are a constant (ski patrols, mountain guides, avalanche forecasters, workers in the cold chain, etc.). Clinical experience with humans shows a limited reversibility of injuries via potential tissue regeneration, which can be fostered with optimal medical management. Data were collected from 92 frostbitten patients in order to evaluate factors that represent a risk of amputation after severe frostbite. Mountain range, years of expertise in winter mountaineering, time elapsed before rewarming and especially altitude were the most important factors for a poor prognosis.