Q&A: Advice from Oklahoma City bone doctor on avoiding frostbite

Another two days of colder temperatures can pose risks for Oklahomans spending their time outside.

According to Dr. Clayton Nelson, an orthopedic surgeon at SSM Health Bone & Joint OSOI, anything below freezing can eventually cause issues — and the length of exposure before issues set in can vary.

Q: How does frostbite happen?

A: During extremely cold temperatures, blood vessels in hands and feet will "clamp down" to keep a person warm, Dr. Nelson said. But when that happens, the blood supply can't keep hands and feet warm enough, and instead, tissue freezes.

"Out of that, the tissue damage will occur," he said. "And that leads to frostbite, as well as conditions like hypothermia."

Q: How can you prevent frostbite?

A: The best place for someone to be is inside. But if you are outside, Dr. Nelson says keeping extremities dry becomes the next most important thing. He added that moisture in hands or feet can add to the danger a person faces when temperatures start to drop.

Q: Does everyone face the same risk?

A: People who have diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, as well as those who experience homelessness, and people under the influence of drugs or alcohol all face extra vulnerabilities during periods of extreme cold.

"It's multifactorial," Dr. Nelson said. "Lots of things can put a person at more risk for frostbite or hypothermia. But most importantly, again, is preventing it in the first place by limiting your exposure and keeping things as dry as possible."

Q: How long before it sets in?

A: Dr. Nelson says there's not a set length of time or universal window for when frostbite sets in. Different people face different risks.

Q: How do I know if I have frostbite?

A: Symptoms include varying degrees of discoloration, such as blue, purple, or white. Pain and numbness at the tips of fingers and toes are also signs someone should seek medical care.