Review Question - QID 213451

Action	Numeric Key	Letter Key	Function Key
Choose 1	1
Choose 2	2
Choose 3	3
Choose 4	4
Choose 5	5
Submit Response			Enter
Previous Question			Left Arrow
Next Question		N	Right Arrow
Open/Close Bookmode		C
Open Image			Spacebar

Hypothermia/Cold Injuries Evaluation and Management Frostbite-specific management QID: 213451 (M2.OMB.19.4872)

QID 213451 (Type "213451" in App Search)

A 35-year-old man presents to the mountain resort clinic with pain and stiffness of his toes. He was climbing a mountain in Alaska when 3 weeks into his expedition, a storm front passed through his camp with sub-zero temperatures. On his walk back to camp, he began experiencing pain and numbness in his feet which worsened with increasing stiffness as he continued on. On physical examination, the skin on his toes appears pale and yellowish white with surrounding erythema, edema, and numbness over the area (Figure A). Which of the following is the best approach to management of his condition?

Type & Select Correct Answer

Type in at least one full word to see suggestions list

Administering prophylactic antibiotics

0/4

Massaging the affected area to create frictional warming

0/4

Rubbing the affected area with snow for gradual thawing

0/4

Submerging the affected area in warm water

100%

4/4

Warming the affected area over fire

0/4

Select Answer to see Preferred Response

Review TC In New Tab

This patient with pain, numbness, and erythema of the toes after climbing in freezing temperatures has frostbite, which is optimally treated with rapid rewarming via submersion in warm water.

Frostbite occurs when skin is exposed to temperatures that are below freezing, and is caused by the formation of ice crystals in the extracellular and intracellular spaces, leading to cell death. Frostbite is treated with rapid rewarming in a controlled manner, and should only occur if there is no chance of experiencing refreezing of the area. The optimal method of rewarming is placing the affected body part into water that has been warmed to 98.6°F to 102.2°F (37°C to 39°C) until the skin regains pliability and returns to its normal color (or a red, purple color).

Figure A shows toes with signs of frostbite, featuring erythema and a fluid-filled blister.

Incorrect Answers:
Answer 1: Administering prophylactic antibiotics has not been supported by the literature and should only be considered if there is significant trauma or signs of infection.

Answer 2: Massaging the affected area to create frictional warming should not be performed for frostbite as this will worsen the injury.

Answer 3: Rubbing the affected area with snow for gradual thawing is not an appropriate method of frostbite management; rewarming with submersion in warm water is the best treatment.

Answer 5: Warming the affected area over fire is not an appropriate form of frostbite management as heating with dry heat may burn tissues due to numbness preventing the proper recognition of pain.

Bullet Summary:
Frostbite should be treated with rapid rewarming with submersion in warm water.

Rating

Please Rate Question Quality

0.0

(0)