Cryotherapy Induced Burns: A Case Series of Three Patients. 2022

Ryan C Ellis, and Casey L Kohler, and Justin E Dvorak
Department of Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Medical Center, Ohio, USA.

Whole-body cryotherapy involves the use of a specially designed liquid nitrogen cryochamber to expose the body to cold, dry air (below -100°C) for short periods of time and has been gaining popularity in the field of sports and exercise science as an aid in recovery following exercise or injury. While proponents of cryotherapy claim that it can reduce inflammation and expedite muscle recovery, there has yet to be published literature that supports these claims. While there is no evidence that cryotherapy provides any benefits, there is a risk for injury with the use of these devices owing to the extreme cold temperatures that are used. We present the three cases of patients who suffered frostbite injuries secondary to single cryotherapy sessions. The first case involved a 26-year-old male who suffered a full-thickness frostbite injury that eventually required excision and grafting, while cases 2 and 3 involve a 17-year-old male and a 28-year-old male who both suffered partial-thickness injuries.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009141 Musculoskeletal System The MUSCLES, bones (BONE AND BONES), and CARTILAGE of the body. Musculoskeletal Systems,System, Musculoskeletal,Systems, Musculoskeletal
D002056 Burns Injuries to tissues caused by contact with heat, steam, chemicals (BURNS, CHEMICAL), electricity (BURNS, ELECTRIC), or the like. Burn
D005627 Frostbite Damage to tissues as the result of low environmental temperatures. Frostbites
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D015444 Exercise Physical activity which is usually regular and done with the intention of improving or maintaining PHYSICAL FITNESS or HEALTH. Contrast with PHYSICAL EXERTION which is concerned largely with the physiologic and metabolic response to energy expenditure. Aerobic Exercise,Exercise, Aerobic,Exercise, Isometric,Exercise, Physical,Isometric Exercise,Physical Activity,Acute Exercise,Exercise Training,Activities, Physical,Activity, Physical,Acute Exercises,Aerobic Exercises,Exercise Trainings,Exercise, Acute,Exercises,Exercises, Acute,Exercises, Aerobic,Exercises, Isometric,Exercises, Physical,Isometric Exercises,Physical Activities,Physical Exercise,Physical Exercises,Training, Exercise,Trainings, Exercise
D017679 Cryotherapy A form of therapy consisting in the local or general use of cold. The selective destruction of tissue by extreme cold or freezing is CRYOSURGERY. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Cold Therapy,Therapy, Cold,Cold Therapies,Cryotherapies,Therapies, Cold

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