freezing cold injuries (FCI)
Last reviewed 02/2021
Freezing cold injuries
Freezing cold injury (FCI) is described as tissue damage caused by temperatures below their freezing point (1).
- there is true tissue freezing caused by heat loss sufficient to cause ice crystal formation in superficial or deep tissues
- it is a well document condition in the military and in countries with extreme cold weather
- less common than non freezing injuries, but is associated with severe complications (1,2)
FCI can present as:
- frostnip
- frostbite (1)
Reference:
evaluation of a patient with an apparent freezing cold injury