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Frostbite in an Adolescent Football Player: A Case Report
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Frostbite in an Adolescent Football Player: A Case Report

Michael Rivlin, Marnie King, Richard Kruse and Asif M. Ilyas
Journal of athletic training, v 49(1), pp 97-101
01 Jan 2014
PMID: 24143903
url
https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-48.6.19View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology Sport Sciences
Objective: To present the case of vascular compromise of a finger from a confluent circumferential blister due to an inappropriately applied commercial cold pack in a high school athlete and to describe the mechanism of iatrogenic injury, acute surgical management, rehabilitation, and pathophysiology of frostbite and constriction injuries. Background: A 17-year-old male football player presented with a frostbite and constriction injury to the index finger secondary to prolonged use of a cooling pack after a mild traumatic injury to the digit. He developed a prolonged sensory deficit from thermal injury, as well as acute vascular compromise requiring urgent operative intervention. Differential Diagnosis: Frostbite and constriction injury to the index finger. Treatment: Emergency surgical decompression and occupational therapy. Uniqueness: Frostbite injuries can occur iatrogenically because of inappropriate use of cooling devices or gel packs. Fingers are commonly injured extremities that are particularly susceptible to frostbite and compression injuries. To our knowledge, no case of vascular compromise from the blister constriction of digits has been reported. Conclusions: Patients and their caregivers must be educated about how to properly use cooling devices. Clinicians need to fully evaluate patients with iatrogenic frostbite injuries, giving particular attention to neurovascular status, and must recognize the need for surgical release of constriction syndrome to prevent substantial morbidity.

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10 citations in Scopus

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Sport Sciences
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