Frostbite - Prognosis

A new approach to frostbite treatment was developed in the 1980s. The major emphasis in this method is to re-warm the body as quickly as possible. This method has proved to be very successful. In one study, about twothirds of patients with superficial frostbite recovered completely without tissue loss. The success rate using older methods was only about 35 percent (or about one-third of patients).

The most serious consequence of frostbite may be amputation. People who do not require amputation may still experience long-term symptoms. These symptoms include extreme throbbing pain, a burning sensation or tingling feelings, color changes of the skin, changes in the shape of nails or loss of nails, joint stiffness, excessive sweating, and a heightened sensitivity to cold.