Ear frostbite

Introduction Ear frostbite, also known as auricle frostbite, the skin of the auricle is red and swollen, itching and unbearable, fever, always want to use hands to rub, gradually feel stinging, sometimes the skin is shiny and blisters appear. Severe auricle frostbite, broken skin, ulceration, yellow water in the auricle, scarring on the surface. The auricle may cause dry necrosis due to long-term ischemia and hypoxia, and it is not uncommon to "freeze the ears". Causes life-long ear defects and disability. The entire auricle has a fat tissue that can be kept in addition to the earlobe. The rest of the ear has only a thin skin covered with cartilage. The blood vessels inside are very fine and the heat preservation ability is extremely poor.

Cause

Because the entire auricle has a fat tissue in addition to the earlobe, the other part has only a very thin skin wrapped with cartilage, the blood vessels inside are very fine, and the heat preservation ability is extremely poor. Especially in winter, the ear is stimulated by the cold weather, the blood supply to the blood vessels of the ear is less than other parts, the blood circulation at the end is disordered, and the blood and blood are not running smoothly, so it is prone to frostbite.

an examination

Related inspection

Otolaryngology CT examination of ear, nose and throat swab bacterial culture

Histopathology: epidermal and dermal edema. Blood vessel congestion, visible red thrombosis, followed by intimal hyperplasia, narrowing of the lumen. Skin attachments are atrophied or degenerated. Adipose tissue presents crystallization and necrosis, and there are sometimes free and intracellular fat droplets in the blood vessels (unique features of frostbite). With the severity of frostbite, the degree of degeneration and necrosis of tissue cells is also more serious, which can be manifested as histopathological changes of dry and wet gangrene.

Differential diagnosis

With the severity of frostbite, the degree of degeneration and necrosis of tissue cells is also more serious, which can be manifested as histopathological changes of dry and wet gangrene. Blood vessel congestion, visible red thrombosis, followed by intimal hyperplasia, narrowing of the lumen. Skin attachments are atrophied or degenerated. Adipose tissue presents crystallization and necrosis, and there are sometimes free and intracellular fat droplets in the blood vessels (unique features of frostbite).

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