Capillary refill in frostbite is typically:

Capillary refill in frostbite is typically:

• A. Usually also hypothermic
• B. Red, painful skin
• C. Very delayed or no capillary refill
• D. Hyperthermia

Answer: (C)

Capillary refill is a quick test of how well blood is flowing to the skin. In frostbite, the tissue is frozen and the tiny blood vessels are constricted and damaged, so blood return to the area after pressing is extremely slow. That means capillary refill is very delayed or may be absent altogether. This reflects the poor perfusion in the affected tissue. The other signs don’t fit frostbite as neatly: red, painful skin points to inflammation or heat injury, not a cold injury; hyperthermia is overheating, not frostbite; while hypothermia can accompany frostbite, it isn’t what capillary refill reveals about the local tissue perfusion.

Capillary refill is a quick test of how well blood is flowing to the skin. In frostbite, the tissue is frozen and the tiny blood vessels are constricted and damaged, so blood return to the area after pressing is extremely slow. That means capillary refill is very delayed or may be absent altogether. This reflects the poor perfusion in the affected tissue. The other signs don’t fit frostbite as neatly: red, painful skin points to inflammation or heat injury, not a cold injury; hyperthermia is overheating, not frostbite; while hypothermia can accompany frostbite, it isn’t what capillary refill reveals about the local tissue perfusion.