Most of us find it difficult to imagine solving ordinary everyday problems and professional activities without fingers. On the legs they are needed for support and proper walking; on the hands, fine motor skills allow not only the necessary self-care skills, but also provide writing.
Unfortunately, there are situations in life when the feet and hands undergo irreversible changes, in which all organ-preserving treatment methods cannot ensure tissue preservation, so there is a need for amputation of the finger.
Due to the traumatic nature and persistent unsatisfactory results, amputations are carried out only in cases where the possibilities of more gentle treatment have been exhausted or it is not feasible due to the extent of the lesion. In other words, such an operation will be performed when saving the finger is simply impossible:
After the removal of fingers and toes, the patient becomes disabled, his life changes significantly, so the question of the need for such intervention is decided by a council of doctors. Of course, surgeons will try to the last to use all available methods of preserving the fingers and toes.
If treatment is necessary for health reasons, the patient’s consent is not required. It happens that the patient does not agree to the operation and there are no absolute indications for it, but leaving the sore finger can cause serious complications, including death, so doctors try to explain to the patient and his relatives the need to remove the fingers and obtain consent as quickly as possible.
Before the operation, the doctor tells the patient in detail about its essence, and also chooses the most optimal option for prosthetics, if necessary, or plastic surgery, so that the cosmetic result is the most beneficial.
There are essentially no contraindications to amputation of a finger or toe. Of course, it will not be performed if the patient is in agonal condition, but an obstacle to the operation may be the transfer of necrosis to the overlying parts of the limbs or the high risk of complications when only a finger is removed. In such cases, amputation of the fingers is contraindicated, but a large-scale operation is needed - removal of part of the foot, amputation of the leg at the level of large joints, etc.
Preparation for surgery depends on the indications for it and the patient’s condition. During planned interventions, the usual list of tests and studies is required (blood, urine, fluorography, cardiogram, tests for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis, coagulogram), and to clarify the nature of the lesion and the expected level of amputation, radiography of the hands and feet, ultrasound examination, and determination of the sufficiency of work are performed vascular system.
If there is a need for urgent surgery, and the severity of the condition is determined by the presence of inflammation, infectious complications and necrosis, then during preparation, antibacterial agents and infusion therapy will be prescribed to reduce the symptoms of intoxication.
In all cases when surgery on the hands and feet is planned, blood thinners (aspirin, warfarin) are discontinued, and the attending physician must be informed about taking drugs from other groups.
Anesthesia for amputation of fingers is often local, which is safer, especially in the case of a serious patient’s condition, but is quite effective, because no pain will be felt.
In the process of preparing for amputation or disarticulation of fingers, the patient is warned about its result; it may be necessary to consult a psychologist or psychotherapist, who can help reduce preoperative anxiety and prevent severe depression after treatment.
The main indication for amputation of the fingers is considered to be trauma with complete or partial separation. When avulsion occurs, the surgeon is faced with the task of closing the skin defect and preventing scar formation. In the case of severe crushing of soft tissues with their infection, there may be no opportunity to restore adequate blood flow, and then amputation is the only treatment option. It is also carried out in case of necrosis of soft tissues and elements of the finger joints.
If during the injury several fractures occur, bone fragments are displaced, and the result of organ-preserving treatment is a motionless, crooked finger, then surgery is also necessary. In such cases, the absence of a finger causes much less discomfort when using the brush than its presence. This indication does not apply to the thumb.
Another reason for amputation of fingers can be damage to tendons and joints, in which preservation of the finger is fraught with its complete immobility, disrupting the functioning of the remaining fingers and the hand as a whole.
Distribution of finger and hand amputations by prevalence
The choice of amputation height depends on the level of damage. Always take into account the fact that a stationary or deformed stump or a dense scar interfere with hand work much more than the absence of an entire finger or a separate phalanx. When amputating the phalanges of long fingers, an operation that is too gentle is often performed.
When forming a stump, it is important to ensure its mobility and painlessness; the skin at the end of the stump should be mobile and not cause pain, and the stump itself should not be thickened in a flask shape. If it is technically not possible to recreate such a stump, then the level of amputation may be higher than the edge of the finger injury.
When performing operations on the fingers, the location of the lesion, the profession of the patient, and his age are important, so there are a number of nuances that surgeons know and must take into account:
Disarticulation is the removal of fragments or the entire finger at the joint level. For pain relief, an anesthetic is injected into the soft tissues of the corresponding joint or into the area of the base of the finger, then the healthy fingers are bent and protected, and the person being operated on bends as much as possible, and a skin incision is made on the back side above the joint. When removing the nail phalanx, the incision is made 2 mm towards the end of the finger, the middle - 4 mm and the entire finger - 8 mm.
After dissection of the soft tissues, the ligaments of the lateral surfaces are intersected, the scalpel enters the joint, the phalanx, which is to be removed, is brought out into the incision, and the remaining tissues are intersected with a scalpel. The wound after amputation is covered with skin flaps cut from the palmar surface, and the sutures are necessarily placed on the non-working side - the back.
Maximum tissue savings, the formation of a flap from the skin of the palmar surface and the location of the suture on the outside are the basic principles of all methods of amputation of the phalanges of the fingers.
In case of injury, either complete separation of the finger or partial separation can occur when it remains connected to the hand with a soft tissue flap. Sometimes patients bring severed fingers with them in the hope that they will heal. In such situations, the surgeon proceeds from the characteristics of the wound, the degree of its contamination and infection, and the viability of the torn fragments.
In case of traumatic amputation, suturing of the lost finger can be done, but only by a specialist who has subtle techniques for connecting blood vessels and nerves. Success is more likely when the integrity of the finger is restored, maintaining at least some connection with the hand, and in case of complete separation, reimplantation is carried out only when there is no crushing of the tissue and proper healing is possible.
Reconstructive operations on the fingers are extremely complex, require the use of microsurgical techniques and appropriate equipment, and take up to 4-6 hours. The surgeon’s work is extremely painstaking and careful, but success is still not absolute. In some cases, skin grafting and repeated reconstructive interventions are required.
Rehabilitation after removal of fingers or their phalanges includes not only care of the skin wound, but also the early restoration of self-care skills with the help of hands and manipulations associated with the profession. In the postoperative period, physiotherapeutic procedures and exercises are prescribed to ensure that the patient learns to use the stump or reimplanted finger.
To facilitate the recovery process, analgesics and bed rest are indicated, the hand is predominantly in an elevated position. In case of severe postoperative stress or a tendency to depression, tranquilizers and sleeping pills are prescribed, and it is advisable to work with a psychologist or psychotherapist.
Unlike the fingers, which are most often subject to traumatic injuries that lead to a surgeon, on the foot and its fingers the need for surgery arises for a number of diseases - diabetes mellitus, endarteritis, atherosclerosis with gangrene of the distal parts of the legs.
Toe amputation due to diabetes mellitus is performed quite often in general surgery departments. Violation of trophism leads to severe ischemia, trophic ulcers and, ultimately, to gangrene (necrosis). It is impossible to save the finger, and surgeons are deciding whether to amputate it.
It is worth noting that with diabetes it is not always possible to limit yourself to the removal of one finger, because nutrition is impaired, and, therefore, one can only hope for adequate regeneration in the scar area. Due to significant disorders of the blood supply to soft tissues in various angiopathies, surgeons often resort to more traumatic operations - disarticulation of all fingers, removal of part of the foot, the entire foot with a section of the lower leg, etc.
When amputating toes, the basic principles of such interventions must be observed:
For small lesions (frostbite of the distal phalanges, for example), it is possible to amputate the distal and middle phalanx without significantly impairing the functionality of the foot, with the exception of the big toe, which provides a supporting function, so if necessary, its removal is done as sparingly as possible.
When amputating the second finger, at least some part of it must be left, if this is possible due to the circumstances of the injury or disease, since complete amputation will subsequently result in deformation of the thumb.
Amputations on the feet are usually performed along the line of the joints (disarticulation). In other cases, there is a need to cut the bone, which is fraught with osteomyelitis (inflammation). It is also important to preserve the periosteum and attach the extensor and flexor tendons to it.
In all cases of injuries, avulsions, crushing, frostbite of the toes and other lesions, the surgeon proceeds from the possibility of maximally preserving the function of support and walking. In some cases, the doctor takes a certain risk and does not completely excise non-viable tissue, but this approach allows you to maintain the maximum length of the fingers and avoid resection of the heads of the metatarsal bones, without which normal walking is impossible.
Toe disarticulation technique:
If the cause of amputation of the fingers was an injury with contamination of the wound surface, a purulent process during gangrene, then the wound is not tightly sutured, leaving drainage in it to prevent further purulent-inflammatory process. In other cases, a blind suture may be applied.
Healing after amputation of toes requires the administration of painkillers, timely treatment of sutures and changing bandages. In case of a purulent process, antibiotics are required; infusion therapy is carried out according to indications. The sutures are removed after 7-10 days. If healing is favorable after the initial operation, the patient may be offered reconstruction and plastic surgery, as well as prosthetics to facilitate work, walking, and support on the foot.
Recovering from toe removal requires physical therapy exercises to develop muscles as well as new skills for using the rest of the foot.
Traumatic amputation is the partial or complete separation of fingers or sections of them as a result of injury. Surgical treatment for such injuries has some features:
If amputated fingers are delivered with the patient, the surgeon takes into account their shelf life and tissue viability. At a temperature of +4 degrees, fingers can be stored for up to 16 hours, if it is higher - no more than 8 hours. A storage temperature of less than 4 degrees is dangerous due to frostbite of the tissue, and then sewing the finger in place will become impossible.
No matter how carefully the operation to amputate fingers and toes is performed, it is impossible to completely eliminate the consequences. The most common of them are purulent complications in the case of traumatic amputations, progression of the necrotic process in vascular diseases, diabetes, formation of a dense scar, deformation and immobility of the fingers, which is especially noticeable on the hands.
To prevent complications, it is important to carefully adhere to the amputation technique and the correct choice of its level; in the postoperative period, recovery with the use of physiotherapeutic methods and physical therapy is mandatory.
Doctors consider frostbite to be an injury. But unlike other injuries, frostbite may not be painful or immediately visible.
Frostbite to the toes usually occurs in winter, and frost can be very insidious to your feet.
With frostbite, a person may not feel pain at all. After all, cold is an excellent pain reliever!
Therefore, if you are walking down the street in the cold, and at the same time wearing narrow and not very warm shoes, be careful to prevent frostbite on your toes.
Treatment depends on the stage of frostbite.
The first stage does not require treatment; the skin recovers on its own.
In the second degree, the blisters are opened by a combustiologist surgeon (a specialist in burns and frostbite). Combustiologists are only available in large hospitals and burn centers, so frostbite is treated by surgeons or traumatologists.
The blisters must be opened correctly, treating the surface to prevent infection. Next, an antibacterial ointment, most often Levomekol, is applied to the wound surface. Cover the top loosely with a sterile napkin.
Antibiotic injections are prescribed intramuscularly. After a week, you can begin physical treatment - ultraviolet irradiation, UHF therapy, darsonvalization.
First, the blisters are removed and the boundaries to which the skin has become dead are determined. Then bandages with hypertonic sodium chloride solution are applied. During the first week of treatment, dead tissue is removed. After healing, physical therapy is also used.
Every person should know what to do in a situation where someone is very cold. After all, trouble can happen to your friends or family, you need to be able to help them.
See how it's done:
Hello. My husband, after a long stay in the cold (-30, about 2 hours), got frostbite on his feet - fingers and sides, partially on the soles near the toes and fingers. I didn't go to the hospital. They were treated at home. The next day after frostbite, dense blisters appeared with clear liquid, and even with blood on the arm, the legs were swollen, the joints were crunching. We carefully opened the blisters, did not remove the skin, treated them with depantol ointment - we applied loose napkins, treated the swelling with gel 911 with badyaga and leech extract, took antibiotics - ciprolet, painkillers - nimesulide, vitamin aevit and calcium glucanate. After 10 days, the rejection of dead tissue began, healing went well, the swelling went down. A month has passed - new thin skin has grown, we lubricate it with a rich cream so that it does not crack, but in general the arm is already in good condition, the legs too. The concern is that the pain in the joints does not go away, the mobility of the joints is preserved. I'm going back to work soon after vacation, tell me how to speed up the recovery of my joints. Thank you in advance.
Olga, going to the hospital would give you at least sick leave. Your case is not the simplest, although you did everything right. How to speed it up? Do you know how to speed up the birth of a child? This is from the same series - you cannot deceive nature.
Hello, my husband got blisters on his feet from frostbite on the second day, and his blue skin, one of his fingers was swollen, he doesn’t want to go to the hospital, what should I do?
You have to force him to the clinic if you don’t want to lose your fingers.
I live in America, Rescuer ointment is not here. I was skiing and frostbitten the tips of my big toe on both feet; there are no blisters, but there is a darkened area the size of a small pea near the nail. A slight numbness in the fingertips is also present, maybe you know any American medications or ointments that can help?
Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the American pharmacy market.
I went to the dacha in January and was very cold there, especially my feet, plus my feet got wet. I got sick. When I returned home, my feet were warm, but the feeling of numbness persisted for two weeks. Then it passed. But yesterday (March) on the subway I developed a feeling of numbness and tingling in both legs from the toes to the middle of the calf. It took 2-3 hours. It appeared again today. Both times my feet were warm.
Please tell me what this could mean.
Hello, Natalia. It's difficult to answer your question without objective research.
I recommend visiting the clinic, your general practitioner.
Let him write out a referral for a general blood test and a separate sugar test (as usual - the first test at 8 a.m. on an empty stomach, the second at 10 a.m. after breakfast).
These tests, at a minimum, will give an objective picture of what is happening.
Hello. Help me please. My husband works at a construction site and, of course, in winter...he got frostbite on his feet. We took hot baths with different herbs, but today I noticed that a blister had formed on his thumb. Very hard and feet are cold all the time. When we keep our toes in hot water, our toes swell and give a blue-red tint...please help with respect to Takhmin..
Takhmina! If you have frostbite on your feet or hands, you should absolutely not take HOT baths! The temperature of the herbal infusion should be no higher than body temperature, that is, no more than 36.6. Allowed up to 37-38, but no more.
Already below it was written about the “Rescuer” balm. Look at the pharmacy. This balm is completely herbal. Its price is quite reasonable - in our pharmacy it costs 110 rubles. Its properties make it possible to normalize the skin in case of wounds (even open ones) and frostbite. Tested!
Thank you for your help...I wanted to ask something else, the tips of his toes are painful, sometimes he complains that he cannot feel them and the nails on his big toe begin to crumble, maybe you can advise something, otherwise I read the comment and, to be honest, I terrified...please advise something...
First of all, from a distance it is difficult to see, or rather to feel, the whole picture. However, imagine that in the soft tissues of the finger there are many tiny vessels through which blood flowed. Why in the past tense? Because blood is a liquid and in case of frostbite in such thin vessels the blood simply froze, as a result of which the vessels became unusable and the blood supply to distant areas of the finger was disrupted. Naturally, the nerve endings record this lack of nutrition and signal with painful sensations (otherwise they cannot, cannot scream, but scream with a feeling of pain). Now you need to take care of your fingers ("Rescuer" balm or some similar ointments that are available in the pharmacy - it is better to make them to order) and wait for new blood vessels to recover and grow, that is, the blood supply is restored. This process is not quick.
Thank you very much....GOD grant you health and all the best...you help us and we are grateful to you for this THANK YOU SO MUCH;;;;.
Hello, I have the following story: I was at the skating rink for about 3 hours, I went there to warm up and my toes began to go numb (this happened, the sensitivity disappeared, but then everything was “ok”). I came home and noticed that sensitivity on both big toes of both feet had disappeared again, I did not attach any importance to this, but then sensitivity appeared on 1 foot, but not on the other. I noticed that the finger became slightly gray and sensitivity did not appear, it felt like being through a plastic bag. It kind of hurts and burns and tingles.. no blisters, nothing like that... just slightly gray and tingling.. I took a bath to increase t, what should I do next? I want to stay with my fingers.. please help..
PS I walked home in very tight shoes!
I will say right away that this is the result of tight shoes, either on boots with skates or on shoes in which I walked home. In cold conditions, shoes should be adjusted so that they can be worn with warm socks. Otherwise, you can expect trouble.
Below we have already written about the “Rescuer” balm.
Only in this case, this balm should be used as a massage cream. That is, smear your fingers with balm (this herbal balm) and massage with careful movements, dispersing the blood through your fingers. You can massage several times a day - even if possible, every hour for five to ten minutes, until a feeling of stable warmth appears.
After the massage, work with your fingers in a standing position, as if kneading them on the floor (preferably standing on a soft mat) in a circular motion.
Let's hope everything works out.
Thank you for the quick answer, it’s good that everything can be easily managed, but here’s another question: I live in Alt. Krai, our pharmacies are already closed late, I have “911” or “Travmalgon” ointment on hand, I don’t remember the exact name can I use it? It has a pretty good warming effect!?
In principle, today it is possible. Just massage very gently so as not to damage the skin. But tomorrow morning it is very advisable to switch to the “Rescuer”, which will allow you to eliminate possible damage during the massage with a different ointment. Warming ointment assumes healthy skin. This is the problem.
Thank you very much, I just noticed that there are also tingling sensations on the second leg, but they are not so noticeable.. Because my right leg is more frozen, there are minor tingling sensations on the left one.. That’s why it’s all shoes.. I’ll definitely take measures.. Thanks for the support!
Good afternoon, please tell me, my brother is in the hospital with 2-3 degree frostbite on his fingers. In the hospital they don’t really do anything other than bandages and the system. Does it make sense to go to a burn center to improve the healing process and preserve the affected areas? Thank you.
Rinat, the pharmacy sells a balm called “Rescuer” (for us it costs 110 rubles). Excellent healing of fresh wounds, including burns. You can simply add to the procedures that are done in the hospital. This will significantly speed up the process.
Thank you for your quick reply. Please also tell me what can be done to restore blood flow and the consequences of deep frostbite, in order to avoid serious surgical interventions and save the fingers. Thank you. .
Rinat, unfortunately, only the attending physician can answer this question. In this case, just wait. I can’t offer any obvious ways to restore blood flow. It all depends on the strength of the brother’s body. Of course, in the burn center there would be specialized specialists and contacting them would speed up the process. If there is such an opportunity, go for it.
By the way! I know of a case (it was a long time ago). A young girl received a serious burn to her face while bending over a fire that puffed up when flammable materials got into it. Doctors predicted plastic surgery. But.. The local healer used a steep solution of silver. The best option is a device consisting of two argentum (silver) electrodes. Once upon a time such devices were on sale.
Main. The girl was given gauze compresses (medical gauze soaked in a saturated solution of silver - silver water). After three weeks, the skin was as good as new and there was no question of any surgery.
Good afternoon.. My husband 5 years ago worked at a sunflower oil production plant... In winter, he cleaned fuses in tanks (fus temperature -5 -10, he spent the whole day knee-deep in rubber boots in this slurry). Since then, his feet have been very cold... they are constantly icy and wet... even in the summer... they twist a lot, regardless of the weather... Please tell me what can be done to help him? Natalia.
Dear Natalia! Very simple procedures will help relieve aching pain and aches. Add a couple of tablespoons of salt to a bowl of warm (not hot) water and soak your feet there for 10 minutes. After this, it is necessary to massage the feet, and attention should be paid specifically to the fingers and soles. These places contain many special points, massage of which leads to an improvement in the general condition of the body. These procedures will help if done regularly. Otherwise, the effect will be only temporary relief of the person’s condition. In addition, it is important to prevent repeated hypothermia of the legs, otherwise the pain may become permanent. It may also be recommended that your husband undergo an ultrasound examination of his kidneys. Hypothermia of the legs is often the cause of diseases of this organ, which for a long time can be hidden or unnoticeable.
Hello. Well, everything is standard, I got frostbite on my hands, neglecting gloves, looking for a lost thing in the snow, at -20 and windy, dug for about 7 minutes, ran home when a strong and very painful tingling began in my fingers, during the warming up process it was very, very painful, on There were only hints of blisters, some rudiments in the form of round pieces, but they passed without a trace, my hands completely warmed up in a couple of hours without heating pads, rubbing, ointments and other unnecessary actions.
But... Those fingers with which I dug the snow (right hand), even after 5 days have reduced sensitivity, and now it feels as if I had rested my fingers well, tingling when touched, the second hand was also in the snow as a support (left), but it was at rest, and everything is fine with her, but on the fingers of the “digging” right palm, which worked in flexion and extension, even after almost a week, sensitivity does not appear.
Maybe some nerve was torn due to the cold? Or what could it be and how to treat it? Outwardly, everything is fine with the palms and fingers.
Eugene! If you are in the cold for a long time, in this case your hands were in the snow at a low temperature - frostbite is inevitable. It should be borne in mind that this term refers not only to the blackness of the frostbitten skin surface and external manifestations in the form of blisters, scars, etc. Frostbite of the hand has several degrees.
In your case, this may be the first degree. With it, the skin surface in the cold has a pale or bluish color and lacks sensitivity. When warmed, the skin becomes purple and painful. Subsequently, the color of the hands returns to normal, and within 7-9 days sensitivity returns. You should be prepared for the fact that when you are outside in cold weather, your fingers may again lose sensitivity (this occurs periodically over several years). You should not allow repeated hypothermia - this is the best advice in this case. It is useful to rub your sore hand with oil (vegetable or butter) at least once a day.
Frostbitten fingers. The next day, blisters appeared on one hand. What does this mean?
Valentin, it is very advisable to see a doctor. The fact is that the symptoms of 2nd and 3rd degree frostbite are approximately similar. However, the second degree allows the body to restore tissue with a little help, but with the third degree, the blood supply to frostbitten tissues stops and they simply die. Only a doctor, during a PERSONAL examination, will be able to draw a conclusion about the degree of frostbite, that is, give effective recommendations. Unfortunately, at home it is unknown how the situation may end.
Hello, Anna. Eight days ago, my 20-year-old son had slight frostbite on his left arm and left leg, he feels a tingling in his little fingers, ring and middle fingers, he says the sensitivity is like through a plastic bag. The doctor said it will go away, he didn’t prescribe anything. So maybe Should I apply some kind of ointment, please advise, otherwise my son is a thousand kilometers away from me, I can’t control it))
Hello, Elena! Judging by the description, your son has mild frostbite. The skin is not damaged, the color is not changed, there are no blisters. Sensitivity will gradually recover. Your doctor is right, there is no cure for such disorders, they go away on their own in a few weeks.
Regards, Anna
Hello! My husband had a fracture of his right ankle. While he was in a cast, his feet became hypothermic. The plaster has been removed, but both legs are numb and painful. The doctor says that there are no signs of frostbite, that it is post-traumatic. The color of the skin on the feet is either very pale or red-blue and the pain does not stop. He is in the hospital, diagnosed with thrombophlebitis, they are putting on IVs, They do physio but there is no improvement. The doctor says it will pass, but there is no improvement or relief.
Hello, Natalia! If the doctor says that there are no signs of frostbite, it means that your legs hurt and the skin changes color. Vascular disorders, unfortunately, often accompany fractures, especially during the rehabilitation period, when the plaster is removed. This period is difficult, you need to get through it. Just because there is no improvement yet does not mean that the medications are not working. Recovery can proceed at its own pace, because everyone’s body is different.
However, if you are not satisfied with the methods used to treat your husband, then it makes sense to seek advice from another qualified specialist. Why expose yourself to worry, let another doctor take a look and make his decision. Who makes sense to contact - a vascular surgeon, a traumatologist or a combustiologist (a specialist in frostbite and burns). The main thing is that you do not doubt the doctor’s competence.
Frostbite of the feet 1-3 degrees in the hospital for a week, fed with analgin and bandaged. They say that I will behave well and they won’t cut anything off. Tell me when it will be possible to switch to home treatment for bandaging only in the clinic. Being sick in our time is not profitable; sick leave is paid only for the first three weeks, more or less, and then it’s just pennies. I'm already tired of lying down. You can’t get up, your fearless legs are twisting, especially at night. I’m 26, my immunity has always been good, I’ve been sick extremely rarely. Doctors, like fish, don’t say anything. Thanks in advance!
Hello, Sergey! I understand your concern, but the doctors are silent because they cannot say anything definite. They are clearly watching how your legs heal after frostbite, because they do not just bandages, but with a healing substance (I don’t know which one, but in such cases it’s usually Levomekol). You just have to be patient and follow the regime, because frostbite is a very serious matter, especially if grade 3 is suspected. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to tell you exactly when you will be released for outpatient treatment. One thing I can say for sure is that they will not keep anyone in the hospital for extra time.
In general, you have to shake the attending physician in order to say anything definite.
Thanks for the info! Recently there was a visit to the head doctor and they said that they thought everything would go away on its own. Tell me, are there any other medications that can be taken to speed up the healing process? The first five days they gave injections, IVs, etc. (BY THE WAY, IT HELPED A LOT). And now 2 aspirin tablets and dressing once every 3 days. Or there is an opportunity to move to a good paid hospital. What do you advise?
Hello, Sergey. Without seeing the whole picture, it is difficult to give advice. Perhaps you just need time to heal. It is unlikely that anything can speed up the process of natural tissue regeneration. The droppers helped at the very beginning, because the healing process was just beginning. Now they won’t help like that anymore, that’s why they were cancelled, that’s what they always do.
But if you are not satisfied with the hospital and doctors, of course, there is always the option of going to a paid clinic or even not going to bed, but getting a consultation with a combustiologist (this is a specialist in frostbite and burns). You may also be prescribed vascular medications and vitamins.
So the choice is yours.
And tell me another moment. If my fingers slowly turn brown, I can move them, it feels as if they are made of wood, the sensitivity is almost zero, they constantly burn, twist, and sting (unbearable). Are these good or not so good signs (in terms of amputation)?
Sergei, the signs, frankly speaking, are not very good. Apparently the nerves are damaged (zero sensitivity), a brown tint to the skin and severe pain are signs that you should definitely pay attention to your doctor. If gangrene begins to develop, it is better to amputate the toes than the entire leg. I’m not scaring you in any way, just be alert and bother your doctor. It’s okay, it’s their job, let them be angry, but you still ask questions - it’s your health!
Anna thank you! After your message, I crawled to the head of the department, he assured me that everything that was happening was quite normal. And he is surprised at how quickly the situation has changed for the better. Because Initially, upon admission, they wanted to cut off half of the foot on each leg, but now there is a high probability of saving all the toes (i.e., without surgical intervention at all). And the fact that his fingers hurt so much, he said that it was very good (that it seemed like there were nerves left, something to hurt). True, the timing, as I understand it, is not entirely clear yet. The dead tissue has not yet completely separated. This is how much panic the diagnosis itself and the lack of information from doctors can lead to. So I behave well and hope for an optimistic diagnosis; I really don’t want to lose my fingers (I don’t even care about money). They dissuaded us about the paid hospital because... at the Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and where I am, the doctors are the same. And actually, he doesn’t observe any complications, although frostbite is still 3rd degree, as I understand it. Thank you again for your advice. In general, ignorance is an evil thing.
Sergey, you are great, you have achieved your goal and received the necessary advice. You can calm down) I am sure that everything will be fine for you!
No. 11 595 Surgeon 01/22/2014
Hello. 5 days ago I had to tinker with snow with my bare hands. My hands got a little frostbitten. There are no external manifestations of frostbite. But for 5 days now the feeling of numbness in the little finger has not gone away. Should I be concerned and see a doctor? Maybe you can tell me what to do?
Sergey Sokolov, Minsk
It is necessary to contact a surgeon, and the sooner the better.
On March 16, I visited the doctor. The diagnosis is vertebrogenic lumbodynia, tetroporesis, and I have numbness in the lower extremities. Feeling of heat\course of treatment - Mexidol + milgamma + nicotinic acid = 10 days. It got a lot better. April 14 - pain in the chest area - dizziness. Pain on inhalation and exhalation. Shooting pain from the cervical spine - left side of the chest - left arm. Pain when moving the arm - chest, heart area. I have osteochondrosis, intercostal neuralgia. I was prescribed: in the morning - Amelotex for three days, in the evening - .
Hello, I am 17 years old and had surgery for a hernia in my lower back. I had surgery on June 29, a month has passed. Yesterday I lay down in the car in the front seat, I reclined it all the way and my legs were down and I began to have a slight pain in my back and began to ache and feel numbness in my fingers. I also got my period on the 29th. Can this affect this?
Hello! I am 18 years old. A year ago, I played a lot of guitar at a professional level (that is, the load on my wrists was not weak) and at some point both hands in the wrist joint hurt, the pain was severe, I could not hold anything. After a week the pain became less and after a month it went away. But throughout the year, pain appeared every now and then in different places: sometimes in the wrist, sometimes above the wrist, sometimes the pain radiated to the fingers. The pain appeared after exertion on the arms. The doctor said that it was.
I put on new shoes, and they squeezed my toes and pinched my leg. I wore them for two days and thought I’d wear them out. I haven’t been wearing these shoes for four days now, but my big toe is numb. The numbness does not go away, and today redness appeared on the outside of the nail, right where the skin is numb. What should I do? How scary is this?
Hello! I was recently fishing and my feet were frozen. 4 days have passed, and there is still a feeling of slight numbness and tingling in the big toes of both feet. There are no visual manifestations in the form of changes in skin color, swelling, etc.
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To help with frostbite, you need to know the different degrees of frostbite, their symptoms and signs.
The winter season very often presents us with many unexpected surprises, but not all of them are pleasant. For example, a harmless walk in the fresh winter air can lead to frostbite. Frostbite is damage to an area of the body due to exposure to low ambient temperatures. Therefore, every person needs to know what to do in case of frostbite.
The fact is that in the cold, blood vessels narrow, as a result of which the body area is not supplied with a sufficient amount of blood. Thus, blood circulation slows down and a moment comes when our body is unable to resist the cold. And at this moment, changes begin to occur in the tissues of the body, leading to the death and destruction of cells. It is also worth noting that frostbite can occur not only in the cold, at sub-zero temperatures, but also at zero temperatures, if it is windy outside and the air humidity is high.
To help with frostbite, you need to know the different degrees of frostbite, their symptoms and signs:
Tingling and pinching of the cheeks or the tip of the nose in the cold is the first sign of frostbite on the face. And in this case, you need to know what to do in case of frostbite and how to properly help the victim. As a rule, a person instinctively tries to cover and protect his face with a scarf or collar. This is truly the right thing to do.
At the same time, you can rub the tip of your nose and cheeks with dry palms until they turn red, but without fanaticism. You should not do this with a wet glove or mitten, especially with snow, as this can lead to microtraumas on the delicate skin of the face. This rubbing helps restore blood circulation when the skin on the face is frostbitten.
Unfortunately, these days many people refuse to wear a hat in cold weather. In most cases, frostbite in the ears occurs precisely because of irresponsible behavior and the simple lack of a hat to cover the ears. You shouldn’t be so careless and so negligent about your health! Going outside without a warm hat in the cold can certainly lead to negative consequences.
Despite the fact that most people wear mittens or gloves in frosty weather, frostbite on their hands occurs quite often. Frostbite on your hands may be due to the fact that the mittens are not warm enough or are simply wet from the snow. If your hands begin to freeze, then they need to be additionally warmed with small physical exercises, without allowing them to become numb. For example, vigorous movements: squeezing and unclenching may be the most effective way to warm them up.
Frostbite on the feet is mainly caused by tight and wet shoes. Winter shoes should always be one size larger than usual. Firstly, so that you can put on woolen socks that absorb moisture. And secondly, it allows your legs to feel freer and move easier. At the first signs of freezing your feet, you need to move more actively, jump from foot to foot, and wiggle your toes.
First aid for frostbite depends on many factors - on the severity of hypothermia of the body and individual parts of the body, on the conditions in which the injured person was. But in any case, with a cold injury, every minute is worth its weight in gold. This is why it is important to understand what to do in case of frostbite. The first thing is to move the victim to a warm room as quickly as possible in order to warm the frostbitten areas of the body.
The most effective and sure way is warming with warm water. Warm baths are used for frostbite on the hands or feet. To begin with, the water temperature should be 30-35 degrees, then it is gradually increased to 40-50 degrees. The duration of such water procedures should be at least 20-25 minutes. If, gradually adding hot water, it becomes clear that the skin is slightly reddened, the victim feels slight pain, it means that all the efforts made were not in vain and blood circulation is restored.
To enhance the effect of warm baths, you can do a light massage. The massage technique is simple. You should start from the fingertips, gently massage, moving upward. After water treatments and massage, you need to carefully wipe the affected area of the body and, if there are no bubbles, wipe with alcohol, apply a heat compress of gauze and a thick layer of cotton wool. You should not use various ointments, because they can only complicate further treatment or medical examination. Immediately after first aid, the victim should be taken to a medical facility, where he will receive professional assistance.
The main task when helping a victim with frostbite is to restore blood circulation. At the first stage, it is important not to make mistakes.
The most common mistake when providing first aid is to quickly warm up a frostbitten area of the body, for example, immersion in hot water. At low ambient temperatures, the process of “falling asleep” occurs in tissue cells, that is, blood circulation slows down greatly. The restoration of blood flow must occur gradually, otherwise the cells may die, that is, tissue necrosis may occur.
The second, common mistake is rubbing the frostbitten area of the body with snow or wet hands. Under no circumstances should you wipe the frostbitten area with snow, as this will cool the skin even more. Moreover, such senseless manipulations cause microtraumas, which can later lead to the development of an infectious process. Massage and light rubbing are possible only at the first stage, but in the future such mechanical warming can lead to potential danger.
If you are going for a long walk in frosty weather, there are many factors to consider. For example, how to dress and put on shoes correctly, whether to eat or go on an empty stomach. And always remember how to act correctly and what to do in case of frostbite.
It's quite easy to protect yourself from frostbite. To do this, you need to know and remember a few simple and important rules:
If you will be in the cold for a long time and do not want to think about what to do if you get frostbite, then you can consider vasodilators as a preventive measure. Such drugs are very effective, since their action is aimed at dilating blood vessels and improving blood circulation. Vasodilator drugs include:
It is always worth remembering that any pharmaceutical drugs can have numerous side effects, which means they must be taken with extreme caution and caution.