Assessment of tissue viability by thermography after experimentally produced frostbite of the rabbit ear.
Since it is difficult and time-consuming to monitor the formation of a demarcation line in frostbite by visual inspection only, thermography was used to study experimental freezing injuries of the rabbit ear. In 8 rabbits, anesthetized with ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride, frostbite was induced by pressing the bottom of a glass bottle 2 cm in diameter, filled with liquid nitrogen against the shaved ear skin. Thermography was performed on both ears after 2, 24, and 48 hours, and one and 3 weeks. At 2 to 48 hours the frost-bitten area was clearly warmer than the surroundings, after one week there were ill-defined diffuse cold spots in the injured area, and after 3 weeks a cold area had become clearly demarcated with a warm zone between the cold area and the surroundings. Thermography is an easy, noninvasive method for monitoring thermal changes after experimental frostbite, but its clinical value is as yet unresolved.
Junila
J
J
Department of Surgery, Oulu University Central Hospital, Finland.
Kaarela
O
O
Mäkäräinen
H
H
Waris
T
T
D000818:Animals; D004431:Ear, External / Q000293:injuries; D005627:Frostbite / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011817:Rabbits; D013817:Thermography; D014022:Tissue Survival