title: Frostbite: predisposing factors and predictors of poor outcome.
abstract: A retrospective review of 79 frostbite cases over a 10-year period at a major Northern Canadian hospital was performed. Factors predisposing to frostbite injury and predictors of a poor outcome were sought. Impaired cerebral function was found to be the major predisposing factor to frostbite injury. At the time of injury, 53% of patients were under the influence of alcohol and 16% were suffering from psychiatric illnesses. Lower extremity frostbite, infection, and delay in seeking medical attention were factors found to be associated with a poor outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Urschel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005627:Frostbite / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors