RESUMEN
Passive rewarming of a cold-water stressed foot was evaluated in 33 recovered trenchfoot (TF) patients and 15 uninjured men. Infrared images were recorded prior to immersion, immediately following, and at 1-min intervals for 20 min. Individual baseline temperature (IBT) recovery was used to separate subjects into three groups designated Good and Poor Rewarming Controls (GRC and PRC) and Injured Subjects (Inj Sub). IBTs were significantly less (p less than 0.01) for Inj Sub compared to both GRC and PRC while no difference existed between GRC and PRC. This relationship changed when slopes of and areas under the mean rewarming curves were compared. Both these criteria were significantly greater (p less than 0.01) for GRC than for PRC and Inj Sub, while no difference was noted between PRC and Inj Sub. It could not be determined if the poor response of Inj Sub was inherent or a result of injury. We conclude that previously injured subjects and nearly 60% of a normal population may be at significant risk for cold injury.