• Gehan Pendlebury, Catherine Brahe, and Rudy Schmiedecke.
• Navy Medicine Readiness Training Command, U.S. Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, 32214 USA.
• Mil Med. 2024 Mar 1.

AbstractCryotherapy is a widely utilized topical treatment for various dermatological conditions. While generally safe and effective, it carries potential risks, such as frostbite injury. Frostbite, a vascular condition causing skin and tissue freezing, is usually associated with prolonged exposure to freezing environments. Certain populations, like military personnel navigating frigid terrains, face an increased risk of frostbite and other cold-weather injuries. In this case, we present an unusual instance of iatrogenic frostbite in a 23-year-old active duty United States Navy Sailor. The patient required a diverse range of treatment modalities, including pain management, sildenafil, nitroglycerine paste, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The implemented treatment regimen resulted in significant clinical improvements with minimal long-term structural damage. This case underscores the clinical value of establishing clear management guidelines for cryotherapy administration in cutaneous conditions. Such guidelines are essential to ensure optimal dosing, minimize adverse sequelae, and improve overall prognosis.Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2024. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.

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