An Unusual Case of Cold Burn Injury in a Tropical Country

Abstract

Cold burn injury is a relatively uncommon type of burn and is especially rare in the tropics. We present an unusual case of cold burn injury secondary to prolonged contact with a cold surface in a tropical country. Failure of conservative treatment required early excision and reconstruction with free tissue transfer and dermal substitute grafting. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of such nature and severity described in a tropical setting. We discuss the differences in managing cold burn injuries compared to thermal burns, including considerations specific to warm climates.