Trauma and burns: frostbite rewarming: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

General Surgery · Trauma and burns: frostbite rewarming

Sample item

A mountaineer arrives with frozen, white, hard toes that are not at risk of refreezing. What is the correct treatment?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Rapid rewarming in 38 to 42 C water with analgesia

Frostbite is treated by rapid rewarming in circulating warm water (about 38 to 42 C) for 15 to 30 minutes, with analgesia and tetanus cover. Rubbing causes mechanical injury, dry heat burns insensate skin, and refreezing is more damaging than delayed thawing. Iloprost or thrombolysis may be used in severe cases.

Option by option

  • A. Rubbing the toes with snow

    Rubbing damages tissue.

  • B. Dry heat from a fire

    Dry heat burns insensate skin.

  • C. Rewarm then allow to refreeze

    Refreezing worsens injury.

  • D. Rapid rewarming in 38 to 42 C water with analgesia (correct)

    Correct. Warm water immersion is standard.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, Rapid rewarming in 38 to 42 C water with analgesia. Frostbite is treated by rapid rewarming in circulating warm water (about 38 to 42 C) for 15 to 30 minutes, with analgesia and tetanus cover.

Why is "Rubbing the toes with snow" not the answer?

Rubbing damages tissue.

Why is "Dry heat from a fire" not the answer?

Dry heat burns insensate skin.

Why is "Rewarm then allow to refreeze" not the answer?

Refreezing worsens injury.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Trauma and burns: frostbite rewarming in General Surgery. Rubbing causes mechanical injury, dry heat burns insensate skin, and refreezing is more damaging than delayed thawing. Iloprost or thrombolysis may be used in severe cases.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Trauma and burns: frostbite rewarming?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.