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Rewarming patterns in hand fracture patients with and without cold intolerance
Ernst S Smits1, Tim H J Nijhuis, Frank J P M Huygen
1Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Hand Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. e.smits@erasmusmc.nl
The Journal of Hand Surgery
|March 18, 2011
Summary
Cold intolerance after hand fracture is not linked to abnormal hand rewarming after cold exposure. This suggests hand temperature regulation may not cause these symptoms in patients.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Physiology
- Thermography
Background:
- Cold intolerance is often attributed to altered hand skin temperature and blood flow.
- The underlying mechanisms of cold intolerance, particularly after hand fractures, require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if patients with cold intolerance post-hand fracture exhibit impaired hand rewarming compared to controls.
- To determine the role of abnormal rewarming in the pathophysiology of cold intolerance.
Main Methods:
- Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity (CISS) questionnaire assessed intolerance severity.
- A cold-stress test was performed on patients (mean 30 months post-fracture) and healthy controls.
- Hand rewarming patterns were measured using videothermography.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in rewarming patterns were observed between affected and non-affected hands in patients.
- No significant differences were found between dominant and non-dominant hands in controls.
- Patients with cold intolerance did not show significantly different rewarming responses compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- The study found no correlation between cold intolerance severity and hand rewarming patterns after cold stress.
- Hand temperature regulation, as assessed by cold-stress testing, may not be the primary cause of cold intolerance symptoms in post-fracture patients.
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