Articles: frostbite-chemically-induced.
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Chirurgie de la main · Jun 2012
Case Reports[Freon gas frostbite: an unusual burn evolving in two stages].
Freon gas is a halogenated derivative widely used in refrigeration and air conditioning. It is maintained at a temperature below -41°C and its contact with skin may cause very serious burns. This is usually an accident at work and the burns affect the hands of patients first. ⋯ Few cases of this injury are reported and no treatment protocol is established at this time. We present two cases of frostbite by freon gas, initially evaluated at a stage of superficial burns and evolved spontaneously in a few days to full thickness burns necessitating surgical treatment by excision and skin grafting. This evolution in two phases has never been described and could help to better understand the pathophysiology of this frostbite and the possibilities of management.
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The refrigerant liquids and gases used widely in industry, farming and medicine for their cooling properties may cause severe frostbite. Despite their widespread use, only a few reports on frostbite of the hand involving these liquids and gases have been published. In this study, the circumstances accompanying these injuries, several adjunctive therapies and preventive measures are discussed. ⋯ Frostbite injuries of the hand are uncommon and their etiologies vary. Thus, the low incidence of these injuries and limited experience in handling rare cases of this nature may lead to misjudgments in treatment that can have grave consequences. Decreasing the exposure time is an important first step in the treatment approach. After exposure to gas, quick delivery of the patient to a burn center is essential.