Frostbite: an overview with case presentations

Much of the interest in frostbite has arisen from various military experiences including the Korean war, World War II, and Napolean's battles in Russia and Poland. Historically frostbite has been not only a military problem, but also a problem in high-altitude climbers and the more recently investigated homeless population. However, the physician should not disregard frostbite as only victimizing the poor and indigent. Anyone who is exposed to harsh winter conditions over a long period of time can suffer from frostbite. Many milder cases of frostbite presented to Cook County Hospital in Chicago were simply due to prolonged winter exposure when a motorist's care broke down. The authors present a review of the variants, pathophysiology, classifications, predisposing factors, and treatment of frostbite. Five cases of frostbite will also be presented from Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL.