Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Edmonton Sees A Sudden Rise In Amputation Due To Frostbites, Here's What To Know

Edmonton is seeing a sudden rise in amputation cases. Inside a clinic in the downtown of the city's homeless shelter, Trevor Logan, reports Global News, winces in pain, as a nurse cleans the blistered middle finger of his right hand. The finger is swollen twice its size. In fact, Logan says that he cannot even look at his hand while the nurse moves whatever is left of his index finger to make room for bandaging. 

This is all caused by <span>frostbite</span>, and is not the only case. Beth Klingenberg, manager of health services at Hope Mission in Edmonton, tells Global News that the shelter had to hire more nurses in the recent years because of amputation. In 2023 alone, there were 81 amputation and most procedures involved Edmonton's homeless population. The number jumped to 120 in 2024. 

"Year over year, we are just getting worse and worse," she says. "And a lot of times it is the same people losing new limbs as the years progress and life becomes harder." 

“I remember we had one client who was quite young, and didn’t understand the full gravity of the loss of his fingers,” Klingenberg says.

The cases have gone up so much so that the Canadian Frostbite Care Network now calls Edmonton Canada's frostbite capital. “Edmonton is reporting higher numbers of frostbite cases in general than we are aware of anywhere else in the country,” said Caitlin Champion, a surgeon at Ontario’s West Parry Sound Health Centre, and a founding member of the network.

As per Cleveland Clinic, Frostbite is an injury where skin and underlying tissues freeze due to prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures, damaging cells and reducing blood flow, commonly affecting fingers, toes, nose, and ears, leading to numbness, paleness, swelling, blistering, and potentially permanent tissue loss if severe. It's a serious condition requiring prompt warming and medical attention, with symptoms ranging from mild (frostnip) to deep tissue damage.

You can get frostbite when the temperature is below 0 degree Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This can happen due to prolonged cold exposure:

<ul><li>During the winter</li><li>In windy weather conditions</li><li>At high altitudes</li><li>If you do not have shelter from the cold weather</li></ul>

Frostbite could also do permanent damage and irreversible tissue damage or necrosis. 

It also affects people who are younger than 18 or of anyone over 65. It does not mean that people outside this age bracket won't be affected. 

<ul><li>Cold, sore and painful (frostnip).</li><li>Pins and needles (surface frostbite).</li><li>Numbness (deep frostbite).</li></ul>

Frostnip is the mildest and earliest stage of frostbite. The affected skin may appear red, purple, or paler than your natural skin tone. It often feels cold, tingly, slightly painful, or numb. At this stage, skin damage is temporary. If you notice these signs, move indoors right away and gently warm the area using warm, not hot, water. As circulation returns, small red bumps called chilblains may appear. Even with mild symptoms, it is wise to see a healthcare provider to rule out lasting damage.

<h3>Superficial frostbite (surface-level frostbite):</h3>

This second stage is more serious and needs medical attention. Although the skin may feel warm, the water inside it begins to freeze into ice crystals. This can cause a sharp pins-and-needles sensation, along with stinging, swelling, or burning. After rewarming, the skin may become painful, develop blotchy red, purple, or blue patches, and resemble a severe bruise or sunburn. Peeling is common, and fluid-filled blisters may form within a day.

<h3>Severe frostbite (deep frostbite):</h3>

In the most serious stage, the deeper layers of skin and underlying tissue freeze completely. The area becomes numb, and movement may be difficult or impossible. Immediate medical care is critical. Large blisters usually appear within one to two days, and the skin may turn black as cells die. A hard, black crust can form and may fall off on its own. If not, a healthcare provider may need to remove it surgically.

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Edmonton is seeing a sudden rise in amputation cases. Inside a clinic in the downtown of the city's homeless shelter, Trevor Logan, reports Global News, winces in pain, as a nurse cleans the blistered middle finger of his right hand. The finger is swollen twice its size. In fact, Logan says that he cannot even look at his hand while the nurse moves whatever is left of his index finger to make room for bandaging. This is all caused by frostbite, and is not the only case. Beth Klingenberg, manager of health services at Hope Mission in Edmonton, tells Global News that the shelter had to hire more nurses in the recent years because of amputation. In 2023 alone, there were 81 amputation and most procedures involved Edmonton's homeless population. The number jumped to 120 in 2024. "Year over year, we are just getting worse and worse," she says. "And a lot of times it is the same people losing new limbs as the years progress and life becomes harder." “I remember we had one client who was quite young, and didn’t understand the full gravity of the loss of his fingers,” Klingenberg says.The cases have gone up so much so that the Canadian Frostbite Care Network now calls Edmonton Canada's frostbite capital. “Edmonton is reporting higher numbers of frostbite cases in general than we are aware of anywhere else in the country,” said Caitlin Champion, a surgeon at Ontario’s West Parry Sound Health Centre, and a founding member of the network.What Is Frostbite?As per Cleveland Clinic, Frostbite is an injury where skin and underlying tissues freeze due to prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures, damaging cells and reducing blood flow, commonly affecting fingers, toes, nose, and ears, leading to numbness, paleness, swelling, blistering, and potentially permanent tissue loss if severe. It's a serious condition requiring prompt warming and medical attention, with symptoms ranging from mild (frostnip) to deep tissue damage.You can get frostbite when the temperature is below 0 degree Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This can happen due to prolonged cold exposure:During the winterIn windy weather conditionsAt high altitudesIf you do not have shelter from the cold weatherFrostbite could also do permanent damage and irreversible tissue damage or necrosis. It also affects people who are younger than 18 or of anyone over 65. It does not mean that people outside this age bracket won't be affected. Stages Of FrostbiteCold, sore and painful (frostnip).Pins and needles (surface frostbite).Numbness (deep frostbite).Common Symptoms Of FrostbiteFrostnip (early warning stage):Frostnip is the mildest and earliest stage of frostbite. The affected skin may appear red, purple, or paler than your natural skin tone. It often feels cold, tingly, slightly painful, or numb. At this stage, skin damage is temporary. If you notice these signs, move indoors right away and gently warm the area using warm, not hot, water. As circulation returns, small red bumps called chilblains may appear. Even with mild symptoms, it is wise to see a healthcare provider to rule out lasting damage.Superficial frostbite (surface-level frostbite):This second stage is more serious and needs medical attention. Although the skin may feel warm, the water inside it begins to freeze into ice crystals. This can cause a sharp pins-and-needles sensation, along with stinging, swelling, or burning. After rewarming, the skin may become painful, develop blotchy red, purple, or blue patches, and resemble a severe bruise or sunburn. Peeling is common, and fluid-filled blisters may form within a day.Severe frostbite (deep frostbite):In the most serious stage, the deeper layers of skin and underlying tissue freeze completely. The area becomes numb, and movement may be difficult or impossible. Immediate medical care is critical. Large blisters usually appear within one to two days, and the skin may turn black as cells die. A hard, black crust can form and may fall off on its own. If not, a healthcare provider may need to remove it surgically.