Immersion foot
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	T69.0
ICD-9	991.4
DiseasesDB	31219

Trench foot, also known as fat foot, is a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary and cold conditions. It is one of many immersion foot syndromes. The use of the word "trench" in the name of this condition is a reference to trench warfare, mainly associated with World War I.

Contents 1 Characteristics 2 Causes 3 Prevention 4 History 5 References 6 See also

[edit] Characteristics

Affected feet may become numb, may be affected by erythrosis (turning red) or cyanosis (turning blue) as a result of poor vascular supply, and feet may begin to have a decaying odor due to the possibility of early stages of necrosis. As the condition worsens, feet may also begin to swell. Advanced trench foot often involves blisters and open sores, which lead to fungal infections; this is sometimes called tropical ulcer (jungle rot).

If left untreated, trench foot usually results in gangrene, which can require amputation. If trench foot is treated properly, complete recovery is normal, though it is marked by severe short-term pain when feeling returns. Like other cold-related injuries, trench foot leaves sufferers more susceptible to it in the future.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Causes

Trench foot occurs when feet are cold and damp while wearing constricting footwear. Unlike frostbite, trench foot does not require freezing temperatures and can occur in temperatures up to 60° Fahrenheit (about 16° Celsius). The condition can occur with as little as eleven hours' exposure.^{[citation needed]}The mechanism of tissue damage is not fully understood.

[edit] Prevention

Trench foot is easily prevented by keeping the feet warm and dry, and changing socks frequently when the feet cannot be kept dry. During World War I,^{[citation needed]} trench soldiers were provided with whale grease and told to apply it to their feet, to reduce the prevalence of this condition; the idea was to make the feet waterproof. It was found, however, that this made the condition worse as it made the feet perspire and absorb even more water. It was also discovered that a key measure was regular foot inspections by officers.^[1]

[edit] History

Trench foot was first noted in Napoleon's army in 1812. It was on the retreat from Russia that it became prevalent, and was first described by Larrey.^[2]

It was a particular problem for soldiers in trench warfare, hence the name, during the winters of World Wars I^[3] and II and in the Vietnam War.

Trench foot made an unwelcome reappearance in the British Army during the Falklands War, in 1982. The causes were the cold, wet conditions and the DMS Boot, which was insufficiently waterproof.

Some people were even said to have developed trench foot at the Glastonbury Festival of 2007 due to the cold and wet conditions at the event. ^[4]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Immersion foot syndromes
• Chilblain
• Trench fever
• Trench mouth

v • d • e Consequences of external causes (T66-T88, 990-999) Temperature/radiation elevated: Hyperthermia · Heat syncope · Radiation poisoning reduced: Hypothermia · Immersion foot · Chilblain Air Hypoxia/Asphyxia · Barotrauma (Aerosinusitis, Decompression sickness) · Altitude sickness/Chronic mountain sickness Food Starvation Maltreatment Physical abuse · Sexual abuse · Psychological abuse Emesis Motion sickness · Seasickness · Airsickness · Space adaptation syndrome Other Electric shock · Anaphylaxis · Angioedema Hypersensitivity (Allergy, Arthus reaction) Subcutaneous emphysema Certain early complications of trauma embolism (Air, Fat) Crush syndrome/Rhabdomyolysis Contracture/Volkmann's contracture/Compartment syndrome Complications of surgical and medical care transfusion reactions: Transfusion hemosiderosis · TRALI · TACO · TA-GvHD · FNHTR · Acute/Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction other: Serum sickness · Malignant hyperthermia · Herxheimer reaction · Graft-versus-host disease · Tumor lysis syndrome Mazzotti reaction