Frostbite

Abstract

A 4-year-old boy was admitted to the emergency departmentbecause of color change and pain on fingers. Anamnesis revealedthat on the previous day, he played snowball without using hisgloves for approximately 1 hour with his friends. Physical examination showed a well-demarcated color change in both fingers withdistal skins having milky brown color and edema (Figure 1 a, b, c).On the left hand, this demarcation was evident on the proximal interphalangeal joint (Figure 1 a, b, c). It was less evident but apparent onthe distal interphalangeal joint of the right hand (Figure 1a). Dopplerultrasonography of the distal fingers showed normal arterial flow.Superficial ultrasonography presented subcutaneous edema. Burndressings with silver sulfadiazine were applied to the fingers, and hewas hospitalized in the burn unit for 3 days before discharge withoutany complications.